Sources: Military Robots and Drones: A Reference Handbook

Abstract

For centuries, warring nations have sought to lower the risk to highly vulnerable humans on the battlefield, typically by providing protective armor, making soldiers' positions more difficult to detect, or by striking from locations safe from retaliation. Autonomous weaponry has now reached the point where robotic systems can perform some key tasks that previously required direct human involvement. Military Robots and Drones: A Reference Handbook introduces the lay person to a highly specialized topic, providing the foundation necessary for further study in this field. Appropriate for high school and college-level students, as well as general readers with an interest in the topic, the author explains the many military applications of robotics as well as current limitations and disadvantages. The book also provides a general history of robotic warfare; examines key individuals, agencies, documents, and models; discusses controversies within the field of robotic and drone warfare, such as ethical considerations; and explains how increased reliance on robotics has affected the structure and strategy of the military. Background and history : Defining robots and drones ; Early descriptions and imagined machines ; Automata ; Power systems and precedents ; Industrial robotics ; World War II ; Cold War robotics ; Robots in popular culture ; Academic centers ; Fielding military robots -- Problems and controversies : Artificial intelligence ; Robots and drones in asymmetrical wars ; Mass production and specialty design ; Gold plating and requirements creep ; Special vulnerabilities of robotic systems ; Autonomous robots and lethal force ; Robots and the laws of war ; Integration of the human-machine team -- Worldwide Perspective : Europe: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Other European countries ; Asia: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Other Asian countries ; South Pacific region ; Middle East: Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, UAE ; North America ; South America ; Africa -- Conclusion -- Chronology -- Biographical sketches : Asimov, Isaac (1920-1992) ; Brooks, Rodney (1954- ) ; Bush, George W (1946- ) ; Cebrowski, Arthur (1942-2005) ; Gates, Robert M (1943- ) ; Greiner, Helen (1967- ) ; Kurzweil, Raymond (1948- ) ; McCarthy, John (1927- ) ; Minsky, Marvin (1927- ) ; Moravec, Hans (1948- ) ; Obama, Barack (1961- ) ; Panetta, Leon (1938- ) ; Reddy, Raj (1937- ) ; Simon, Herbert A (1916-2001) ; Turning, Alan (1912-1954) ; Vaucanson, Jacques de (1709-1782) ; Warwick, Kevin (1954- ) ; Whittaker, William "Red" (1948- ) ; Wilson, Daniel (1978- ) -- Data and documents : BigDog ; Dragon Eye ; Dragon Runner ; Fire Fly / Lightning Bug ; Fire scout ; Gladiator ; Global Hawk ; MARCbot ; MULE ; PackBot ; Pioneer ; Predator ; Raven ; Reaper ; ScanEagle ; Shadow ; TALON ; Warrior ; Documents: Missile technology control regime, National Defense Authorization, fiscal year 2001, International Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation, 2002, Department of Defense Reports to Congress on Development and Utilization of robotics and unmanned ground vehicles, October 2006, U.S. Department of State legal advisor Harold Koh, speech to the American Society of International Law Annual Conference, 2010 ; Aircraft Procurement Plan Fiscal Years (FY) 2012-2041, U.S. Air Force, 2011, Policy options for unmanned aircraft systems, Congressional Budget Office, 2011 -- Directory of organizations : Government agencies: Air Force Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Robotic Systems Joint Project Office ; Research organizations: Boston Dynamics, Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute, Foster-Miller Company, General Atomics, Honda Motor Company, iRobot Corporation, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, RAND Corporation, Stanford Artificial Intelligence laboratory (SAIL) ; Defense conglomerates: BAE Systems, Boeing, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, QinetiQ North America, Raytheon Company.