Admirable robot dogs are now attached with guns and are ready to shoot!

One of the most remarkable discoveries in the domain of robotics is quadrupedal robots. They are small, agile, and cute. Quadrupedal robots resemble little dogs, which makes them even more attractive and alluring. But soon these robot dogs might be used for combat, defense, and security purposes, and it is increasingly becoming a popular idea in the US.

Ghost Robotics has already built a quadrupedal robot that is equipped with a custom gun. Apparently, the gun is designed to be fitted into several robotic machines. It has a 30x optical zoom, thermal camera for targeting in the dark, with a range of about 1200 meters. The US government has been contemplating testing this gadget in a field for the army to test its effectiveness to be used in the line of defense.

Even the NYPD (New York Police Department), Massachusetts State Police, and the Honolulu Police Department have recently started using robot dogs to accompany them for patrols, remotely defuse bombs, and fight crimes. The Singapore Government has also deployed robot dogs to patrol and maintain social distancing amid the current pandemic. These robots are autonomous ground vehicles with artificial intelligence.

Fears revolving around unmanned robots

With the rapid development and deployment of robotics weapons and machines, it can be envisioned that robots might replace humans on the battlefields. These autonomous robots are also called 'killer robots' as they could select and engage targets without human intervention. Experts believe that robots in complete automation are incapable of differentiating between civilians and enemies, which violates international humanitarian law standards.

The complete deployment of autonomous weapons raises questions on its accountability which can erode civilian protection. Given that such a robot can identify a target and launch its own attack, it is unclear as to who should be held responsible for any unlawful actions committed by the machine.