Roboethics - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 82

Table 3.1 Selected examples of the use of robots, some of w hich are adapted from Veruggio ( 2010 )
Robots Benefi ts Problems Ethical recommendations

Industrial Possible increase in productivity

and speed. The ability to carry out
tasks which are dangerous or
unpleasant for humans

Possible deskilling and loss of
jobs and workplaces. Possible
loss of respect for manual work

Evaluation of appropriate roles for robots and where
it is better to use people. Limited use of robots or
decisions not to use them in some applications.
Programmes to create new skills. Political and other
measures to increase job availability and security

Mobile robots Wide range of applications

including personal assistants
and travel support

Safety, (data) security, privacy Information to make users aware of privacy and

security issues. Improve design to increase safety
and include adaptive privacy management. Update
safety, security and privacy standards

Humanoid robots Increased effi ciency in performing

complex tasks, possibility of
carrying out dangerous and
unpleasant tasks

Possible deskilling; unpredictable
long-term social impacts and
unpredictable behaviour of robots

Programmes to create new skills. Political and other
measures to increase job availability and security.
Controlled introduction of humanoid robots and
ongoing study of their impacts on society with the
possibility of curtailing or restricting further
introduction of robots if necessary. Systems for the
control of robot autonomy

Domestic robots Potentially give people more time

for social interaction and leisure
by liberating them from
household tasks

Possible safety issues, particularly
when the household includes
children or animals. Possible loss
of respect for manual work and
housework

Design to very high standards and extensive testing,
paying particular attention to possible presence of
children and animals

Cloud robots Reduced requirements for

onboard processing and increased
effi ciency in performing complex
tasks

Possibility of reduced speed of
operation, reliability problems
and breakdowns, (data) security
and privacy issues

Update international fault tolerance standards to take
into account cross-effect complexity. Update safety,
security and privacy standards. Make users aware of
privacy and security issues. Improve design to
improve reliability and robustness and increase safety