ATR and Lethal Autonomous Robots

doi:10.1117/3.2542436.ch8

Book: Automatic Target Recognition, Fourth Edition

Author(s): Bruce J. Schachter

Published: 2020

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2542436.ch8

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

The term autonomous stems from the Greek autos (self) and nomos (law). Autonomous implies reduced human control as compared to automatic (or automated) control. An automated car will be less intelligent and independent than an autonomous car. It will be less able to learn, understand, and adapt to new situations. Driverless and autonomous are nearer to synonyms, as are self-driving and automated. When developed, a truly driverless car will not require a human to take control in difficult situations. It will be able to deliver packages without any humans onboard. Virtually all current automatic (a.k.a. aided) target recognizers (ATRs) leave decisions about weapons delivery to humans. A future autonomous platform could have an embedded ATR, but no humans in direct control. That is the premise of this chapter.