International governance of autonomous military robots

Military technology is a field driven by change - the constant pursuit to be better, faster, stronger. Certain technological achievements like guns and planes have happened in the purview of the public and have revolutionized the world of war as we know it. Yet many technological changes have occurred under the radar, in military labs and private test fields, with the majority of citizens unaware of the leaps and bounds of progress. Robotics is one such modern military technology advancement that has largely escaped public attention to date. Combining the most advanced electronic, computer, surveillance, and weapons technologies, the robots of today have extraordinary capabilities and are quickly changing the landscape of battle and dynamics of war. One of the most important achievements has been the creation of robots with autonomous decision-making capability.2 In particular, the development of autonomous robots capable of exerting lethal force, known as lethal autonomous robots ("LARs"), has significant implications for the military and society.