{"51731":{"#nid":"51731","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Robot Ethics Proposal Funded By DoD","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EATLANTA (July 14, 2006)--\u003C\/strong\u003ECollege of Computing Regents\u2019 Professor Ron Arkin was recently awarded $290K over the next three years from the Department of Defense (DoD) for his proposal titled, \u003Cem\u003EAn Ethical Basis for Autonomous Systems Deployment\u003C\/em\u003E. The proposal outlines an approach for both investigating and implementing an ethical basis for the deployment of lethality in autonomous robotic systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EArkin will address the ethical dimensions of robotic weaponry and involve the generation of \u0022an artificial conscience\u0022 for an intelligent autonomous robotic agent. By applying limits and constraints on a robot\u2019s actions as required by the bounds of existing ethical decision-making protocols (e.g., the Geneva Convention) rules of engagement, and other ethical and military requirements, Arkin\u2019s study will provide a fundamental contribution toward the deployment of intelligent robotic weaponry.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGiven the far-reaching consequences and ethical aspects of this technology,\u201d says Arkin, \u201cthe military can judiciously determine the most effective and appropriate usage an intelligent autonomous robotic agent.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe net effect of Arkin\u2019s research will be: to produce robots that can perhaps act more humanely than humans do under highly stressful conditions, as evidenced by acts such as those committed at Abu Ghraib; to provide warnings in the field to military decision makers about the potential ethical consequences of battlefield and tactical actions regarding the use of this technology; and to ensure that accountability for the use of these systems is engineered into them from the onset.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EArkin\u00a0has conducted research into intelligent autonomous systems for\u00a0twenty years, focusing heavily on military applications. He is also recognized as a leader in the robot ethics community, and\u00a0holds several significant positions of responsibility in relevant professional societies.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about Regents\u2019 Professor Ron Arkin, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/component\/option,com_peopledb\/task,view\/contact_id,285894068\/Itemid,238\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eclick here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Computing Regents\u2019 Professor Ron Arkin will make a fundamental contribution toward the deployment of intelligent robotic weaponry for the Department of Defense.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27154","created_gmt":"2010-02-09 21:46:55","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:05:12","author":"Louise Russo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2006-07-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2006-07-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}