| An online think tank member and concept | | | | battlespace AI future of net-centric warfare. |
| designer has been studying the aerodynamics | | | | If we built a vertical virtual 4D sound wall |
| of insect flight; specifically bees and | | | | then as the swarm bunches up, the power level |
| locusts and now he believes has figured out | | | | must be increased. What the swarm would do, |
| the puzzle which has literally plagued | | | | since we are dealing with an organic evolved |
| mankind since ancient times. How to stop | | | | creature, which has never dealt with such a |
| locust swarms from devastating human | | | | sound wall is probably continue rather than |
| civilizations. How so you ask? | | | | evade it. |
| | | | |
| Mr. Warren Powers has drawn out plans to test | | | | Although they might turn around or mutate the |
| a concept of using directional sound waves to | | | | swarm's shape or direction due to the |
| control and stop locust storms. In his | | | | bunching up of traffic jam, which would be |
| announcement of the concept Mr. Warren | | | | the same if they encountered an obstacle, a |
| states; "It seems to me a reasonable place to | | | | tree, mountain, rock or building and that we |
| begin would be to create a curtain or "plane" | | | | know they can do and have evolved to deal |
| of sound or a "sound wall" or "sound barrier" | | | | with, obstacle avoidance. Now then, we need a |
| through which the locusts would fly and that | | | | secondary unit to close off the sides and |
| wall of sound could be a few feet thick and a | | | | backs of the swarm or several such units. And |
| couple hundred yards long, a few dozen yards | | | | if all hell breaks lose [as if a locust |
| tall. That space would look like a rectangle | | | | plague is not already nearly there] then |
| in the air placed in the path of an oncoming | | | | those operating such machinery need to be |
| swarm." | | | | protected too. |
| | | | |
| Yes in concept this could work. But do locust | | | | No one knows for sure if Warren Powers |
| swarms have any rhyme or reason or known | | | | strategy will work, but judging by the laws |
| shape to them? Hard to say, but I think they | | | | of physics it appears it is possible and that |
| do actually, although I would have to study | | | | is good enough a reason to go for it, as |
| this. I am pretty into swarm theory from an | | | | everyone knows how devastating Locust Plagues |
| offense and defense standpoint of nature and | | | | can be. Imagine this in 2006. |