ABSTRACT
The introduction of new technologies has resulted in novel and, usually by implication, more effective ways of conducting warfare. Indeed, many leading military thinkers have identified new technology – both of civilian and military origins – as the source of many of history’s military revolutions, or so-called major military innovations, as others have termed radical change in military affairs. Robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) is an accepted term in academia and the science and technology community and highlights the physical (robotic) and cognitive (autonomous) aspects of these systems. In contrast, others see RAS as a democratizing technology, that is, small states and even non-state actors will have access to a suite of technologies almost comparable to that of the major powers. The rate at which RAS-related technology proliferates and the level of difficulty involved in adopting it, will be an important factor.
