Roboethics - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 83

Exploration and
demining robots

Use of robots in dangerous
situations; reduction of risk
to humans

Unpredictable impacts on the
environment

Investigation of the impacts of robot use on the
environment

Health care Minimally invasive surgery;

reduction in patient recovery time

Breakdown of surgical robot
systems can cause potentially fatal
problems; possible deskilling of
medical personnel. The risk of
unauthorised people accessing
data from the robots

Very strict standards, including for safety issues.
Regular updating of standards and reviews of use
context. Very cautious introduction of robots to health
care with constant monitoring and research on impacts
and the possibility of limiting or halting this
introduction. The development of privacy management
systems for health care (robots)

Military robots Attractive to military, but no real

benefi ts to people

Reduced resistance to violent
confl ict and war. Increasing
percentage of civilian casualties

Cease development of military robots and
decommission those already in use. Programmes of
confl ict prevention, environmental protection, poverty
alleviation and peace building

Toy and companion
robots

Fun to play with. Can facilitate
social interaction of some autistic
children and young people.
Potential for teaching all children
and young people more
cooperative approaches to social
interactions

Impacts on social relationships and
longer-term impacts on society are
unpredictable. Risk of focussing on
behaviourist approaches with
autistic children rather than
developing strengths

Research on impacts of toy and companion robots for
autistic, and other disabled and non-disabled children
and adults. Cautious and carefully targeted
introduction with monitoring of the impacts

Socially assistive
companion robot
for adults

Can interest, motivate and engage
people and encourage them to
participate in activities and do
exercises and calm them when
depressed

Risk of reduced human (or animal)
companionship for which robots are
not a substitute. Deception may be
used, e.g. with people with dementia
to make them think the robots are real.
Risk of ignoring problems that are
causing agitation. Risk of use as a
control mechanism, including of
behaviour. Privacy risks if user data
is collected

Good resourcing of support for elderly and disabled
people. Disability and elderly equality training for
all professionals working with disabled and elderly
people. Improved training in communication strategies
and the provision of information, e.g. to people with
dementia. Research on privacy management. Full
information to potential users about privacy issues
so they can make informed choices