When you research and write about the intersection of diseases and armed conflict, there are relatively few opportunities to discuss the lighter side of things. So for this reason, I was pleased to see that scientists that worked on the Star Wars missile defense shield are developing a laser weapon system to kill mosquitos. Even better, the scientists want to mount these lasers on unmanned airborne drones, creating what could best be described as mosquito hunter-killer flying robots that shoot lasers… of awesomeness.
I am all for diversity of approaches, but this seems a little ridiculous. Never in my discussions with malaria experts has the idea for laser shooting robots come up. Now, you could chalk it up to a lack of imagination on their part, but I suspect my colleagues would disagree. It is one thing to think outside the box, it is another to augment the box with wings, lasers guns and a computer brain.
I, for one, welcome our new flying laser shooting mosquito robot overlords.
Christopher R. Albon is a political science Ph.D. specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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It’s like Future Combat Systems applied to public health. I bet they’ve got a cool mancave hidden in a fake volcano, where they are working on their next project: Electrified Bed Nets!
Great pickup on the MENDSTATE blog.
Wow. I work on UAVs and this is the wackiest idea I’ve heard of yet. I’m glad to hear someone is thinking about how to beat that particular sword into a plowshare, but they would be slightly more credible if they talked about a wall- or post-mounted version, with a UAV flying in power packs and replacement parts on a regular basis.
The same vehicle would probably be far more useful carrying other supplies, but then we wouldn’t get to play with lasers, so who cares.
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