International Governance of Autonomous Military Robots

36 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2011

See all articles by Gary E. Marchant

Gary E. Marchant

Arizona State University - College of Law

Braden Allenby

Arizona State University (ASU)

Ronald Arkin

Georgia Institute of Technology

Edward T. Barrett

United States Naval Academy

Jason Borenstein

Georgia Institute of Technology

Lyn M. Gaudet

MINDSET

Orde F. Kittrie

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Patrick Lin

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

George R. Lucas

United States Naval Academy

Richard O'Meara

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jared Silberman

College of William and Mary

Date Written: December 30, 2010

Abstract

Unarmed aerial vehicles (i.e., drones) are already starting to transform the conduct of military engagements, and these systems are projected an increasingly prominent role in military forces in the future. A number of factors will push these systems toward increased autonomy, raising the possibility of the future development of lethal autonomous robotics (LARs). This article seeks to proactively address the ethical, policy, and legal aspects of ALRs. It first describes the technological status and incentives for LARs, and then reviews some ethical and policy concerns that autonomous systems present. The paper then describes three potential routes for proactive governance of LARs: (i) existing legal and policy regimes such as rules of engagement, laws of war, and international humanitarian law; (ii) arms control agreements; and (iii) “soft law” mechanisms such as codes of conduct and international consultative bodies.

Keywords: Military Technology, Robotics, Arms Control, Soft Law, Governance

JEL Classification: K33, O38

Suggested Citation

Marchant, Gary E. and Allenby, Braden and Arkin, Ronald and Barrett, Edward T. and Borenstein, Jason and Gaudet, Lyn M. and Kittrie, Orde F. and Lin, Patrick and Lucas, George R. and O'Meara, Richard and Silberman, Jared, International Governance of Autonomous Military Robots (December 30, 2010). Columbia Science and Technology Law Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1778424

Gary E. Marchant (Contact Author)

Arizona State University - College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States
(480) 965-3246 (Phone)
(480) 965-2427 (Fax)

Braden Allenby

Arizona State University (ASU) ( email )

Farmer Building 440G PO Box 872011
Tempe, AZ 85287
United States

Ronald Arkin

Georgia Institute of Technology ( email )

Atlanta, GA 30332
United States

Edward T. Barrett

United States Naval Academy ( email )

Jason Borenstein

Georgia Institute of Technology ( email )

Atlanta, GA 30332
United States

Lyn M. Gaudet

MINDSET

2441 Ridgecrest Dr SE
Albuquerque, 87108
United States

Orde F. Kittrie

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States

Patrick Lin

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo ( email )

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
United States

HOME PAGE: http://ethics.calpoly.edu

George R. Lucas

United States Naval Academy ( email )

121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
United States

Richard O'Meara

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Jared Silberman

College of William and Mary ( email )

P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23185
United States

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