Safeguards for military robotics are impeded by the realities of warfare | Science

For much of human history, weapons were passive instruments that became lethal only through human action. But thanks to, and in part, because of robotics, many modern weapons have taken on a life of their own. It is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of all the robotic technologies currently deployed in warfare, as we tend to learn about what technologies were used during particular conflicts only after a war is completed. But, broadly speaking, today’s robots designed and used for military purposes encompass all areas of robotics, from vehicles travelling on ground, to water and air drones, to camera-guided rifles, and combinations thereof. While most of these systems are not lethal, and are used primarily for surveillance, reconnaissance, and observation, the weaponization of robots is becoming increasingly easier because modern robots are startlingly better than their predecessors at manipulating objects while in motion. This could soon lead to the development of unmanned vehicles capable of placing explosives in hard-to-reach locations or dog-like robots that can pursue and engage pedestrians.