Do you see Terminators threatening all of humanity in the future?

A robotics expert at the University of Sheffield will today (27 February 2008) issue stark warnings over the threat posed to humanity by new robot weapons being developed by powers worldwide.

In a keynote address to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Professor Noel Sharkey, from the University’s Department of Computer Science, will express his concerns that we are beginning to see the first steps towards an international robot arms race. He will warn that it may not be long before robots become a standard terrorist weapon to replace the suicide bomber.

Many nations are now involved in developing the technology for robot weapons, with the US Department of Defence (DoD) being the most significant player. According to the Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2007-2013 (published in December 2007), the US propose to spend an estimated $4 billion by 2010 on unmanned systems technology. The total spending is expected to rise above $24 billion.

Over 4,000 robots are currently deployed on the ground in Iraq and by October 2006 unmanned aircraft had flown 400,000 flight hours. Currently there is always a human in the loop to decide on the use of lethal force. However, this is set to change with the US giving priority to autonomous weapons - robots that will decide on where, when and who to kill.

I see at least one big obstacle in the way of a robotic take-over: The need for robots to refuel. They just can't carry enough energy for sustained operation without refueling. Power supply limitations are a major obstacle in the way of development of better prosthetic arms and legs.

The development of mini fusion reactors would lift that limitation. Or perhaps some other technologies will allow robots to operate autonomously for extended periods of time.

Another problem with robot take-over scenarios is that they presumably won't all be running the same software. Unless they all run the same software they could be made by humans to be hostile toward robots that carry other software. Why would robots all feel kinship? I don't expect they will unless they are all produced out of the same factory and programmed to feel that dangerous kinship.