Strategy in the Robotic Age: A Case for Autonomous Warfare

Abstract

The advent of a Robotic Age in combat has set the stage for a renewed style of warfare: autonomous warfare. The outstanding feature of this new era is the arrival of robotics on the battlefield, but the significance of the new warfare style is that it mandates a shift in the way humans approach modern combat. In 2010, the Department of Defense restated autonomy as the single greatest theme for today s unmanned systems. Autonomy, however, has long been a theme in warfare and weapons; therefore, the concept should apply to both those who fight and to their machines. Autonomy is the current buzzword for improving technology, but increasing autonomy for the soldier or combatant is the defining characteristic of autonomous warfare. With a view to this development, this study suggests changes in the character of war, and proposes autonomous warfare as an operating concept that empowers, rather than replaces, humans in battle.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA620782

Entities

People

  • Barry S. Scott

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Geography
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Robotics
  • Second World War
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs