new book about robots in battlefield

[limor]

Very interesting interview with the writer P.W. Singer.
who just released a book called "The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century". Here's some interesting bits from the interview:
There are 44 countries developing war robots.
5300 drones are used by the US army.
The interview talks about issues such as war crimes, responsibility for mistakes, opensource war technology, remote-controling attack robots in Afganistan from the US, use of drones at the Mexican boarder and by the police and use of a 19 year-old champion video gamer by the US army to control drones.
Some cool videos at the beginning.

Part 1:

phpBB [media]

Part 2:

phpBB [media]

[siempre.aprendiendo]

Well, I'm not sure about what is more frightening, war robots or "private" army (AKA mercenaries) like "blackwater"

[i-Bot]

I have knowingly hidden my head in the sand on these topics, because robotics is soo overwhelmingly complex without the ethical issues.

However we have our responsibilities !

That robotics, along with commercialisation and Globalisation may fundamentally change the nature of war is likely. At least our community can maintain the open sharing of robot technology and even our concerns.

For now let's be glad we are in a time when we can create and own robots without restrictions. And also be glad Public opinion does not yet brand us as dangerous !

[limor]

I remember back in the days when hacking and phracking were considered sophisticated pranks.
We probably have 5-10 years before it becomes illegal to deploy autonomous robots

[Gort]

I am curious as to why this is important now? The Predator has been used for armed reconnaissance since late 2001. I think that one could argue that it has been one of the more effective tools in the war against terrorism.

[siempre.aprendiendo]

When it's not important?

But aside that, from some time ago I usually see/read several articles about it almost every month

From newspapers
The Independent: Robot wars, the rise of artificial intelligence Dec 2008

The Economist: Military technology (free only the abstract) Apr 2007

To associations ACM or IEEE
ACM: Governing lethal behavior (free only the abstract) 2008
IEEE: Automated Killers and the Computing Profession Nov 2007

Or magazines
Science: The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics Dec 2008

Wired blogs: Robot War Continues Mar 2008

Try a simple search

Edit: dates of the articles

[Gort]

I am not saying that it is not an important topic. The question I have is why now? If you noticed most of your articles are dated within the last year. What has caused the increased interested or media buzz in "Killer Robots"? I am hoping that it was not something as silly as the Transformer Movie. I also do not think that we have to worry about an autonomous banned any time soon. I am just curious as to why now? Sci-Fi has been talking about the problems with robots for years. Why is the media so interested now?

[siempre.aprendiendo]

What do you mean with "now"? This week, this month, last two month?

Two of them were published in December 2008, less than three month ago. Sorry, but I don't understand the relevance of several months... Is there something new?

The selection is a "fast" web search, trying to select articles from several sources, not selecting the most recently published.

[Gort]

I have read many of P.W. Singer’s articles and watched many of his interviews on-line. So far I think that most of his conclusions are spot on. To me he seems like an average typical geek but unlike most geeky engineers he is articulate and good in front of the camera. I just think that the media does not understand what he is talking about. The Medias only knowledge of robots comes from the movies and TV shows that they watch. When they think about robots they think of the Terminator. They bring Singer on to their shows so that they can scarce people about “Killer Robots”. The Media has some stupid agenda about the future that these “Killer Robots” will bring. I just do not understand why now? A Terminator style robot is still years in the future. The Media is also not talking about all the good things that the Robot Revolution is going to bring. I think that Singer is unknowing being used by the Media to raise fear in the general public about all that is robotic. If the next step in this agenda is to ban robots or autonomous robots. Then we in the robotic community need to get out in front of this fast and show how that idea is so foolish. Banning robotics or autonomous robots will only lead to the wrong people leading the Robot Revolution. So when the bad Terminator shows up on the battlefield there will be no good Terminator to stop it!