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Killer robots might sound like the stuff of science fiction, but they're alarmingly close to becoming a reality. A new report from the United Nations Human Rights Commission suggests that lethal autonomous robots need to be regulated before they become the military weapons of the future.
The report — which will be debated at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on May 29 — states that the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan all possess lethal robots that are either fully or semi-autonomous.
Some of these machines — or "lethal autonomous robotics" (LARS), as they are called in the report — can allegedly choose and execute their own targets without human input.
The author of the report, South African human rights professor Christof Heyns, calls for a worldwide moratorium on the "testing, production, assembly, transfer, acquisition, deployment and use" of these killer robots until further regulations are put in place to govern their use.
According to the Associated Press, the report cites at least four examples of fully or semiautonomous weapons that have already been developed around the world. The report includes the U.S. Phalanx system for Aegis-class cruisers, which automatically detects, tracks and engages antiship aircraft.
Other examples of existing LARS include Israel's Harpy, an autonomous weapon that detects, attacks and destroys radar emitters; the U.K's Taranis, a jet-propelled drone that can autonomously locate targets; and South Korea's Samsung Techwin surveillance system, which autonomously detects targets in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
While the U.N. report focuses mainly on LARS, it also decries the recent upsurge in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles — or drones — by the U.S. military, and other nations.
"[Drones] enable those who control lethal force not to be physically present when it is deployed, but rather activate it while sitting behind computers in faraway places, and stay out of the line of fire," Heyns wrote.
"Lethal autonomous robotics, if added to the arsenals of States, would add a new dimension to this distancing, in that targeting decisions could be taken by the robots themselves. In addition to being physically removed from the kinetic action, humans would also become more detached from decisions to kill — and their execution."
The use of unmanned aircraft to carry out bombing missions in the Middle East is already a hotbed issue in the U.S. And recently, killer robots have also been receiving attention from several groups that wish to bring an end to their ongoing development.
In November 2012, Human Rights Watch called for an international ban on fully autonomous robots. And just last month, the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots was launched in London by a coalition of human rights groups demanding a ban on the future development of autonomous weapons.
The argument against autonomous weapons is summed up by Heyns in the U.N.'s new report.
"Decisions over life and death in armed conflict may require compassion and intuition," Heyns wrote. "Humans — while they are fallible — at least might possess these qualities, whereas robots definitely do not."
There are, however those who argue for the use of drones precisely because of their lack of human emotions, a point of view that Heyns includes in the Human Rights Commission's findings.
"[LARS] will not be susceptible to some of the human shortcomings that may undermine the protection of life," Heyns wrote. "Typically they would not act out of revenge, panic, anger, spite, prejudice or fear.
Moreover, unless specifically programmed to do so, robots would not cause intentional suffering on civilian populations; for example, through torture. Robots also do not rape." [See also: Military Struggles to Find Limits of Robot Autonomy]
Proud Member of the Infidels of OIF/OEF
No longer defending the US Military or US Gov't. Just going to ""**feed into your fears**"" with Duffel Blog Did not fight my way up on top the food chain to become a Vegan...
Warning: Stupid Allergy
Once you pull the pin, Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend
DE 6700
Harlequin 2500
RIP Muhammad Ali.
Jihadin, Scorched Earth 791. Leader of the Pork Eating Crusader. Alpha
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2013/05/08 01:58:41
Subject: Re:Killer robots condemned in new UN report
I feel better now for the 30 round clips I have.........time to practice eye shots.....
Proud Member of the Infidels of OIF/OEF
No longer defending the US Military or US Gov't. Just going to ""**feed into your fears**"" with Duffel Blog Did not fight my way up on top the food chain to become a Vegan...
Warning: Stupid Allergy
Once you pull the pin, Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend
DE 6700
Harlequin 2500
RIP Muhammad Ali.
Jihadin, Scorched Earth 791. Leader of the Pork Eating Crusader. Alpha
Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios
Killer Robots, they're coming. Surrender. You have 20 seconds to comply.
Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines
Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.
I don't have a problem with the remote controlled drones, but I could agree that autonomous robots should not be set to kill. Should have a dude there to pull the trigger, even if he's a long ways away.
Coincidentally, this was a subject of this week's episode of Castle.
"Is that a rocket in your pocket or are you just-er Oooooooo "
Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines
Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.
I'd rather see any sort of robot being destroyed in a battle than even a single western soldier. Plus, as already stated in the article, robots do not share the weaknesses humans have. On the other hand, how flexible are they in regards to combat tactics? Could they react to sudden enemy movement or would it be too easy to fool them?
There is one problem with "robot wars", nobody dies.
War results in death and injury. There is a huge human cost in pain and suffering when it comes to war, a cost that remains long after the war is finished there will be wives (and husbands) without spouses, children without parents, parents without children, veterans without legs standing on the side of the streets asking for a dollar.
When there is no human price to war, what will be our deterrent to starting wars?
Kilkrazy wrote:In 20th and 21st century wars the casualties increasingly have been among civilians. Would the use of robot soldiers help that situation?
I feel as though the Robocop clip is an eloquent answer.
d-usa wrote: There is one problem with "robot wars", nobody dies.
War results in death and injury. There is a huge human cost in pain and suffering when it comes to war, a cost that remains long after the war is finished there will be wives (and husbands) without spouses, children without parents, parents without children, veterans without legs standing on the side of the streets asking for a dollar.
When there is no human price to war, what will be our deterrent to starting wars?
Having the biggest robot, or the largest quantity. You know, how it's always worked.
And there will be no soldier price to war, that doesn't mean there won't be a human price.
2013/05/08 10:19:39
Subject: Re:Killer robots condemned in new UN report
Great and now i am stocking up on firepower. Much much firepower.
Please excuse me fellow Dakkanoughts ive got to go make some pipe bombs and find those instructions for a railgun i have...........
Free from GW's tyranny and the hobby is looking better for it
DR:90-S++G+++M++B++I+Pww205++D++A+++/sWD146R++T(T)D+
2013/05/08 10:27:40
Subject: Re:Killer robots condemned in new UN report
Ma55ter_fett wrote: Also did you know that with the advances in body armor all fighting will take place from the knee's down?
*drops into fighting stance* "Sweep low, chop low, swing low."
And thats why, in the future, the wiener legions will be the best fighters. If anyone is genetically made to fight low, its wiener dogs and basset hounds.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
Human race rolling 
5000pts 
6000pts 
3000pts
"
