The San Francisco Police Department announced it is considering using robots equipped with explosives in the future.
This controversial statement, as you’d expect, is already making headlines.
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The SFPD made it clear that they’re not currently operating robots equipped with lethal force.
They will, however, eventually deploy ‘explosive’ robots in the not-too-distant future.
According to the SFPD, these robots could be equipped with explosive charges capable of breaching “fortified structures containing dangerous subjetcs”.
The obvious advantage is that robots are expendable.
And by using these ‘killer robots’, as somebody calls them, they aim to reduce risk for police officers.
There are a number of caveats.
First and foremost, officers could use these robots only as a last resort measure when all alternative ‘de-escalation tactics’ failed.
In addition to that, only a small number of high-ranking officers could authorize the use of these robots.
These robots, by the way, are already in use in other parts of the United States.
However, the decision was met with criticism.
Doctor Catherine Connolly, head of the campaign ‘Stop Killer Robots’, said “this is a slippery slope.”
“Using these robots “[will] make humans more and more distant from the use of force,” Dr Connolly said. “It will also make humans distant from the consequences of the use of force.”
A growing number of companies and institutions are beginning to use robots to carry out certain tasks.
The city of Pompeii in Italy is planning to deploy robots to protect the ruins.
Meanwhile, a company named Ziggy has developed a robot that finds a parking spot for you when you approach a car park.
