Singer2

P.W. Singer.  Wired for War (pp 19-41; 123-134; 205-236; 315-325; 382-412)

This set of excerpts provides broad background on the state of the art in military robotics as well as several glimpses into the near future.

Questions:

1 These excerpts paint a picture of how robots are used today in warfare, how they may be used tomorrow, and how the public and policy-making bodies consider robots of both remote-controlled and autonomous kinds.  Imagining an axis along which one demarcates levels of autonomy (from none to very high levels), identify at least four positions along this axis and describe, for each position, a war-fighting robot that already exists or is likely to exist.

2 Unplanned, or perhaps unintended, consequences are common in the history of technology and society.  As you read the excerpts, make a note of ways in which Singer suggests the use of robots will change either governmental policy or public thinking about war itself.  Present at least three such sociological patterns in answer to this question.