Only 5% were n 2005. Nearly 7,500 of the 18,000 aircraft in the US inventory are robots:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/01/drone-report/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/01/drone-report/
1 in 3 US warplanes is now a drone
- Thread starter RAMA
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Just a thought, I happened to read the comment section. These are not robots as we would like to think of them. One person pointed out that the cockpit is simply on the ground. Think of these as remote controlled jets and planes.
Also as far as the Article goes, most of these "pilot-less" planes are are the spy version. They use up so much bandwidth, people are considering using blimps because they can put more cameras on them.
Also, it's not that manned planes have been reduced. We just have that much more aircraft flying.
Man, 500MB/s! I think they could use some compression. 
This is true to a large degree, but they still fall under the definition of "robot"...and there are several controversial capabilities within many of the robots where they operate without human input!
Such as? I mean, an autopilot would be obvious but hardly controversial.
Here are some Definitions from Dictionary.com:
One is out (plane doesn't look human)
Two is out (one could argue that the plane is one person and the pilot on the ground is another, but the plane is not moving in a routine manner. The pilot on the ground likely has to change direction on a moments notice.)
Three is out because the machines are not operating automatically.
Because of these three definitions, these human piloted machines are not robots.
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or remotely controlled..
ro·bot (r
b
t
, -b
t)n.1. A mechanical device that sometimes resembles a human and is capable of performing a variety of often complex human tasks on command or by being programmed in advance.
2. A machine or device that operates automatically or by remote control.
3. A person who works mechanically without original thought, especially one who responds automatically to the commands of others.
The origin of the word robot "Rosssum's universal robots" is derived from the word for servitude or forced labor, both of which could be used for fully automatic or remotely controlled autonomous vehicles.
ro·bot (r
2. A machine or device that operates automatically or by remote control.
3. A person who works mechanically without original thought, especially one who responds automatically to the commands of others.
The origin of the word robot "Rosssum's universal robots" is derived from the word for servitude or forced labor, both of which could be used for fully automatic or remotely controlled autonomous vehicles.
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http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/beyond-surveillance-darpa-wants-a-thinking-camera/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
In 2009, academics and technical experts attended a conference to discuss the impact of the hypothetical possibility that robots and computers could become self-sufficient and able to make their own decisions. They discussed the possibility and the extent to which computers and robots might be able to acquire any level of autonomy, and to what degree they could use such abilities to possibly pose any threat or hazard. They noted that some robots have acquired various forms of semi-autonomy, including being able to find power sources on their own and being able to independently choose targets to attack with weapons. They also noted that some computer viruses can evade elimination and have achieved "cockroach intelligence." They noted that self-awareness as depicted in science-fiction is probably unlikely, but that there were other potential hazards and pitfalls
http://www.newsytype.com/11606-automated-killer-drones/
Autonomous capabilities of the MQ1B Predator drone: http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=122
Autonomous capabilities of the Global Hawk:
http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13225
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16358851
So, by your definition, a radio controlled car that you can buy at your local toy store is in actuality a robot. I think you are reaching with your definition.
What we are dealing with is no better than a remote controlled airplane (admittedly a very expensive one).
As with just about anything there are qualitative differences...a remote controlled car is just a toy, but a Nascar car is a totally different animal.
While you might make an argument that Nascar drivers are drones (Turn LEFT! Ok, turn LEFT! Now, turn LEFT!), I don't think they are remote-controlled cars.
A perfectly reasonable desire; persistent surveillance implies thousands of hours of video, very little of it of interest. A camera smart enough to automatically flag events for human review would be highly useful.
Independently identifying targets I have no problem with, so long as there is a human in the loop before action is taken.
Also, to say robots have "acquired" the ability to find power sources makes it sound like evolution. It's more like thousands of man-hours of research, and I'm very impressed that they managed it.
That's exactly what they've done...learn...but there is also this:
http://www.dailytech.com/EATR++A+Fuel+Foraging+Robot/article18452.htm
http://www.robotictechnologyinc.com/index.php/EATR
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