Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots

Drawing from the author’s own state-of-the-art research, this book examines the philosophical basis, motivation, theory, and design recommendations for the implementation of an ethical control and reasoning system in autonomous robot systems, taking into account the Laws of War and Rules of Engagement. It discusses how robots can ultimately be more humane than humans in the battlefield. The author addresses the issue of autonomous robots having the potential to make life-or-death decisions and provides examples that illustrate autonomous systems’ ethical use of force. He also includes the opinions of the public, researchers, policymakers, and military personnel on the use of lethality by autonomous systems.