Autonomy, when applied to humans, is taken to mean freedom to make choices and take actions based on those choices without constraints from others. There is an implicit assumption that the autonomous person will be subject to the laws and other ethical constraints which apply to every other person. It is generally accepted that the current developments of robots and highly automated systems will continue. However, concerns are raised about whether there are risks to individuals and to society as a whole from these developments. These concerns can only be alleviated by showing that the new type of product can be trusted to behave in an ethical manner. The book presents engineering approaches to the problem.The terms `robot', `intelligent system' and `Artificial Intelligence (AI)' are frequently used, but with little consensus about their exact meaning. Clear definitions of terms are essential in both engineering and law so various definitions are provided and discussed. An autonomous system is defined as `a system which has the ability to perform intended tasks based on current state, knowledge and sensing, without human intervention'. Autonomy level was a specialist concept, but is now gaining more widespread use, so the range of definitions of the relevant terms, with a selection of industry-specific definitions, is explained. The article reviews various issues relating to current thinking on automated and autonomous weapon systems.

Chapter Contents:

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Automatic or autonomy – does the choice of word matter?
• 3.3 Definitions of autonomy and automatic
• 3.4 Automated and Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS)
• 3.5 Autonomy levels
• 3.5.1 The need for autonomy levels
• 3.5.2 Autonomy levels for non-military systems
• 3.5.3 Autonomy levels for military systems
• 3.6 Autonomy, trust and work-sharing
• 3.7 Control system developments
• 3.7.1 Intelligently designed mechanisms
• 3.7.2 Intelligently designed control systems
• 3.7.3 Intelligent control systems
• 3.8 Models and control systems
• 3.8.1 Models of the process under control
• 3.8.2 Models of the control system
• 3.9 Control and the targeting process
• Appendix A3 Definitions of autonomy and autonomy levels
• A3.1 Autonomy-related definitions from published civilian standards
• A3.2 Military definitions of autonomy
• A3.2.1 NATO discussion of terms
• A3.2.2 UK Joint Doctrine Note JDN 3/10
• A3.2.3 US DOD Directive of 2012
• A3.3 Non-military definitions of autonomy levels
• A3.3.1 Barber and Martin [31]
• A3.3.2 Parasuraman et al. [32]
• A3.3.3 Space industry
• A3.3.4 Road vehicle industry
• A3.3.5 Maritime industry
• A3.4 Military definitions of autonomy level
• A3.4.1 NATO-suggested definitions
• A3.4.2 The US Department of Defense levels
• A3.4.3 Autonomy Levels For Unmanned Systems (ALFUS)
• References

Inspec keywords: intelligent robots; law; military systems; weapons; artificial intelligence; ethical aspects

Other keywords: intelligent system; autonomy level; laws; autonomous system; autonomous weapon systems; robots; artificial intelligence; human intervention; automated control; ethical constraints; highly automated systems

Subjects: Robotics; Weapons; Policy, government and political aspects (military and defence); Military control systems; Legal aspects of control and robotics