Proposed Rules to Determine the Legal Use of Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Platforms in Domestic U.S. Law Enforcement

We need some rules. “Or there will be . . . trouble.

A Broad View on Robot Self-Defense: Rapid Scoping Review and Cultural Comparison

With power comes responsibility: as robots become more advanced and prevalent, the role they will play in human society becomes increasingly important. Given that violence is an important problem, the question emerges if robots could defend people, even if doing so might cause harm to someone. The current study explores the broad context of how people perceive the acceptability of such robot self-defense (RSD) in terms of (1) theory, via a rapid scoping review, and (2) public opinion in two countries. As a result, we summarize and discuss: increasing usage of robots capable of wielding force by law enforcement and military, negativity toward robots, ethics and legal questions (including differences to the well-known trolley problem), control in the presence of potential failures, and practical capabilities that such robots might require. Furthermore, a survey was conducted, indicating that participants accepted the idea of RSD, with some cultural differences. We believe that, while substantial obstacles will need to be overcome to realize RSD, society stands to gain from exploring its possibilities over the longer term, toward supporting human well-being in difficult times

Environmental enforcement technology adoption: Marine environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonResearch Background: Entities responsible for environmental enforcement around the world are facing increasing pressure to deal with the alarming rate of environmental degradation and crime, despite the limited resources available to them. They are continuously searching for technological advancements to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency. This research aims to explore and develop effective technology adoption insights for environmental compliance and enforcement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Research Gap: Existing technology adoption studies in law enforcement were mainly conducted on criminal law enforcement. Studies conducted on technology adoption of users involved in environmental enforcement were very scarce, especially from the perspective of environmental enforcers. Environmental enforcement was found to be a unique field of law enforcement with unique challenges and characteristics. This gap in the literature gives interest to acquire further knowledge and understanding of the technology use and adoption of users involved in environmental enforcement. Methodology: This study has adapted a qualitative approach with multiple case studies triangulated with onsite observations, documents, and interviews with relevant stakeholders to explore the use and adoption of technology in environmental compliance and enforcement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Findings: Numerous significant findings were made during the research. The research found that technology use in the field of environmental enforcement in the marine environment in Bahrain has a significant impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of these systems, mainly through providing increased accuracy, speed, cost reduction and transparency. The technologies vary from basic technologies such as GPS to complex integrated systems, the type of technology utilized is mainly driven by the role and task of the organization or individual. The research also finds many aspects of theories from previous studies on technology adoption in the field of law enforcement to be applicable to this research’s field, mainly the M-TAM which is based on the TAM model. The research found that technology adoption in environmental enforcement in the Kingdom is mandatory in nature, in which intent to use the technology has no influence since the user does not have the choice not to use the technology provided. Rather the extent to which the technology is used is influenced mainly by attitude, perceived usefulness, degree of necessity of the use of the technology, and various external factors (management style, cognitive acceptance, and stakeholder environment). Furthermore, the research identified additional unique factors affecting technology adoption in environmental enforcement, mainly the stakeholder’s environment. The study's findings led to the development of a modified model of technology adoption for environmental enforcement. The model illustrates the complex interaction between many factors influencing users' adoption and usage of technology in the field of environmental enforcement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Implications: The model illustrates the factors that influence technology adoption by users involved in environmental enforcement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The main contribution of the research and the model is the ability to predict and explain technology adoption of users in the unique field of environmental enforcement. This knowledge is critical for the Kingdom, which has made significant investments in technological solutions across a variety of sectors, including environmental enforcement. Understanding and taking into account the factors influencing technology adoption will increase the likelihood of effective technology being adopted successfully in the Kingdom of Bahrain, resulting in more efficient usage, increased productivity, and ultimately improved performance toward the achievement of goals and targets.Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrai

Mechatronic Systems

Mechatronics, the synergistic blend of mechanics, electronics, and computer science, has evolved over the past twenty five years, leading to a novel stage of engineering design. By integrating the best design practices with the most advanced technologies, mechatronics aims at realizing high-quality products, guaranteeing at the same time a substantial reduction of time and costs of manufacturing. Mechatronic systems are manifold and range from machine components, motion generators, and power producing machines to more complex devices, such as robotic systems and transportation vehicles. With its twenty chapters, which collect contributions from many researchers worldwide, this book provides an excellent survey of recent work in the field of mechatronics with applications in various fields, like robotics, medical and assistive technology, human-machine interaction, unmanned vehicles, manufacturing, and education. We would like to thank all the authors who have invested a great deal of time to write such interesting chapters, which we are sure will be valuable to the readers. Chapters 1 to 6 deal with applications of mechatronics for the development of robotic systems. Medical and assistive technologies and human-machine interaction systems are the topic of chapters 7 to 13.Chapters 14 and 15 concern mechatronic systems for autonomous vehicles. Chapters 16-19 deal with mechatronics in manufacturing contexts. Chapter 20 concludes the book, describing a method for the installation of mechatronics education in schools

Border wars: the arms dealers profiting from Europe´s refugee tragedy

While tens of thousands of refugees have died fleeing terrible violence and hardship to get to Europe, not everyone has lost out. This report exposes the military and security companies that have profited from the tragedy, winning contracts to provide the equipment to border guards, the surveillance technology to monitor frontiers, and the IT infrastructure to track population movements.Introduction: the EU war on immigration 3 Fueling the refugee tragedy: EU arms exports 6 EU response to migration: militarising the borders 9 ´Fighting illegal immigration´ EUNAVFOR MED Armed forces at the borders NATO assistance Border fences and drones From Frontex to a European Border and Coast Guard Agency Externalizing EU borders Deal with Turkey Selling militarisation as a humanitarian effort Lobbying for business 17 Lobby organisations Frontex and industry Security fairs as meeting points EU funding for border security and border control 25 Funding for (candidate) member states Funding third countries´ border security EU Research & Technology funding Frontex funding for research Future prospects for security research Which companies profit from border security? 34 Global border security market Frontex contracts Major profiting companies Detention and deportation Conclusion 4

The Killer Robots Are Here: Legal and Policy Implications

In little over a year, the possibility of a complete ban on autonomous weapon systems—known colloquially as “killer robots”—has evolved from a proposal in an NGO report to the subject of an international meeting with representatives from over eighty states. However, no one has yet put forward a coherent definition of autonomy in weapon systems from a law of armed conflict perspective, which often results in the conflation of legal, ethical, policy, and political arguments. This Article therefore proposes that an “autonomous weapon system” be defined as “a weapon system that, based on conclusions derived from gathered information and preprogrammed constraints, is capable of independently selecting and engaging targets.” Applying this definition, and contrary to the nearly universal consensus, it quickly becomes apparent that autonomous weapon systems are not weapons of the future: they exist and have already been integrated into states’ armed forces. The fact that such weaponry is currently being used with little critique has a number of profound implications. First, it undermines pro-ban arguments based on the premise that autonomous weapon systems are inherently unlawful. Second, it significantly reduces the likelihood that a complete ban would be successful, as states will be unwilling to voluntarily relinquish otherwise lawful and uniquely effective weaponry. But law is not doomed to follow technology: if used proactively, law can channel the development and use of autonomous weapon systems. This Article concludes that intentional international regulation is needed, now, and suggests how such regulation may be designed to incorporate beneficial legal limitations and humanitarian protections