Weaponized Robots: Understanding the Spectrum of Risk and Fear | LAWS Workshop @ ICRA 2022

About the Video:
The increasing capabilities of mobile ground robotics are raising new concerns about their potential for misuse. A significant focus of such discussions has been on “autonomy,” but among some constituencies, concerns about weaponized robots start at an earlier point along the spectrum of technical capabilities. Thoughtful distinctions are needed to separate science-fiction myths from legitimate ethical challenges that threaten the social acceptance and beneficial adoption of robotic innovations. This talk examines the foundational concerns of weaponized robots, draws on industry and policy solutions for ubiquitous and accessible aerial robotics (drones), and explores some potential avenues for understanding and mitigating the risks and fears of weaponized robots.

About the Speaker:
Brendan Schulman is Vice President of Policy & Government Relations at Boston Dynamics. In this role, he collaborates with policymakers and stakeholders on a wide range of policy and ethics issues relating to the integration of beneficial robots into society.

Recorded at the Workshop on Addressing Ethical and Technical Challenges in the Development, Use and Governance of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems during the 2022 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).

Produced in partnership with the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (https://www.ieee-ras.org/).
Recording funded in part by a grant from the United Engineering Foundation (https://www.uefoundation.org/).