What’s it like to pilot a drone? A lot like 'Call of Duty' [View all]

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http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/11/26/whats-it-like-to-pilot-drone-lot-like-call-duty/?cmpid=prn_military



Creech AFB predator pilots


What’s it like to pilot a drone? A lot like 'Call of Duty'
By John Brandon
Published November 26, 2012
FoxNews.com

Teenagers raised on "Call of Duty" and "Halo" might relish flying a massive Predator drone -- a surprisingly similar activity.

Pilots of unmanned military aircraft use a joystick to swoop down into the battlefield, spot enemy troop movements, and snap photos of terror suspects, explained John Hamby, a former military commander who led surveillance missions during the Iraq War.

“You’re always maneuvering the airplane to get a closer look,” Hamby told FoxNews.com. “You’re constantly searching for the bad guys and targets of interest. When you do find something that is actionable, you’re a hero.”

Yet a new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found real-life drone operators can become easily bored. Only one participant paid attention during an entire test session, while even top performers spent a third of the time checking a cellphone or catching up on the latest novel.