This book provides an insightful introduction to the most important field of military innovation for the 21st century—robotic and drone weaponry.
For centuries, warring nations have sought to lower the risk to highly vulnerable humans on the battlefield, typically by providing protective armor, making soldiers' positions more difficult to detect, or by striking from locations safe from retaliation. Autonomous weaponry has now reached the point where robotic systems can perform some key tasks that previously required direct human involvement.
Military Robots and Drones: A Reference Handbook introduces the lay person to a highly specialized topic, providing the foundation necessary for further study in this field. Appropriate for high school and college-level students, as well as general readers with an interest in the topic, the author explains the many military applications of robotics as well as current limitations and disadvantages. The book also provides a general history of robotic warfare; examines key individuals, agencies, documents, and models; discusses controversies within the field of robotic and drone warfare, such as ethical considerations; and explains how increased reliance on robotics has affected the structure and strategy of the military.
Table of Contents:
Preface
1 Background and History
Defining Robots and Drones
Early Descriptions and Imagined Machines
Automata
Power Systems and Precedents
Industrial Robotics
World War II
Cold War Robotics
Robots in Popular Culture
Academic Centers
Fielding Military Robots
References
2 Problems and Controversies
Artificial Intelligence
Robots and Drones in Asymmetrical Wars
Mass Production and Specialty Design
Gold Plating and Requirements Creep
Special Vulnerabilities of Robotic Systems
Autonomous Robots and Lethal Force
Robots and the Laws of War
Integration of the Human-Machine Team
References
3 Worldwide Perspective
Europe
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Italy
Other European Countries
Asia
China
Russia
India
Pakistan
Japan
South Korea
Other Asian Countries
South Pacific Region
Middle East
Israel
Jordan
Turkey
Iran
UAE
North America
South America
Africa
Conclusion
References
4 Chronology
5 Biographical Sketches
Asimov, Isaac (1920–1992)
Brooks, Rodney (1954–)
Bush, George W. (1946–)
Cebrowski, Arthur (1942–2005)
Gates, Robert M. (1943–)
Greiner, Helen (1967–)
Kurzweil, Raymond (1948–)
McCarthy, John (1927–)
Minsky, Marvin (1927–)
Moravec, Hans (1948–)
Obama, Barack (1961–)
Panetta, Leon (1938–)
Reddy, Raj (1937–)
Simon, Herbert A. (1916–2001)
Turing, Alan (1912–1954)
Vaucanson, Jacques de (1709–1782)
Warwick, Kevin (1954–)
Whittaker, William "Red" (1948–)
Wilson, Daniel (1978–)
6 Data and Documents
BigDog
Dragon Eye
Dragon Runner
Fire Fly/Lightning Bug
Fire Scout
Gladiator
Global Hawk
MARCbot
MULE
PackBot
Pioneer
Predator
Raven
Reaper
ScanEagle
Shadow
TALON
Warrior
Documents
Missile Technology Control Regime
National Defense Authorization, Fiscal Year 2001
International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, 2002
Department of Defense Reports to Congress on Development and Utilization of Robotics and Unmanned Ground Vehicles, October 2006
U.S. Department of State Legal Advisor Harold Koh, Speech to the American Society of International Law Annual Conference, 2010
Aircraft Procurement Plan Fiscal Years (FY) 2012–2041, U.S. Air Force, 2011
Policy Options for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Congressional Budget Office, 2011
References
7 Directory of Organizations
Government Agencies
Air Force Research Laboratory
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Robotic Systems Joint Project Office
Research Organizations
Boston Dynamics
Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute
Foster-Miller Company
General Atomics
Honda Motor Company
iRobot Corporation
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
RAND Corporation
Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL)
Defense Conglomerates
BAE Systems
Boeing
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation
QinetiQ North America
Raytheon Company
8 Print and Nonprint Resources
Books and Articles
Journals, Bulletins, and Newsletters
Government Documents and Agency Publications
Web Sites
Glossary
Index
About the Author
About the Author :
Paul J. Springer, PhD, is assistant professor of comparative military studies at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL. He previously taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Texas A&M University. Springer earned his doctorate at Texas A&M University in 2006, and authored America's Captives: Treatment of POWs from the Revolution to the War on Terror.
Review :
Military Robots and Drones: A Reference Handbook provides a high-level overview of the background and current trends affecting two types of mechanical devices used in combat and non-combat settings: robots . . . and drones. . . . [T]his work serves as a useful introduction to the topic and a guide to current literature.
Providing a basic overview, this easy-to-use handbook is a good introduction to the topic.
Extensive references at the end of most chapters make this a valuable resource for those readers interested in greater study. As a reference for high school students and up, this book is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in modern military robotics, especially on the technological capabilities of contemporary mechanization.
This is a fine collection on a subject where available sources are scarce.
