Chinese spy balloons can travel thousands of miles fighting rough ocean weather. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence

China is a seasoned player in spying on rival countries and even the sky is not the limit. Spy balloons hovering over US skies have raised concerns as they have been spying on US military establishments. It is considered a highly advanced artificial intelligence-powered balloon with the ability to carry out high-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Earlier, Chinese spy balloons were also spotted in countries like Taiwan, Latin America, and recently in India. According to reports, at least four balloons entered US airspace since 2017. Though the recent balloon was initially thought to be difficult to shoot, it was brought down by Sidewinder Missile. Now the US security agencies are putting all their brains together to reverse engineer to understand its mechanisms.

Why Balloons for Surveillance?

According to US security authorities, balloons are giving China the unique advantage of surveying facilities from angles satellites cannot. The balloons are made of highly synthetic material unlike stealth satellites made of metals making them immune to the radar detection system. By virtue of their round shape and the altitude they travel, they can deflect the radar rays effectively. As they move at an utterly lower pace, they can hover over a target for days together to collect data. They notoriously have erratic movement and are hence difficult to predict.

Artificial Intelligence is the Driving Force

Spy balloons are fitted with advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered maneuvering systems, Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR), high-resolution optical imaging tools, signal intelligence devices, data link nodes for Radio and Satellite, and solar panels. Solar panels are similar to those fitted to satellites and give the balloons the power to endure over several years. All the visible payload provides guidance and helps collect information. The balloon has traveled thousands of miles all the way from China to the USA, against the turbid winds of the ocean surface and yet it landed safely in the US skies. US experts say it is possible only with an advanced AI-based manoeuvering system with the capability of pushing the balloon in a particular direction using thrust vectors of wind. This kind of maneuvering can be achieved with AI reading the changes in the air around it, and adjusting its altitude to guide it to where it wants to go, with probable involvement of radio communications from its home base.