Robohub.org
 

Robo-Wars: The regulation of robotic weapons

Oxford_Martin_Alex_Leveringhaus_2

Robotic weapons, whether autonomous or remote controlled, have generated widespread controversy in recent years.

Alex Leveringhaus, James Martin Fellow, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, discusses the ethics of autonomous weapons, and in a recent policy paper titled Robo-Wars: The Regulation of Robotic Weapons, urges governments to recognise the increasing prominence of these weapons in contemporary and future forms of warfare and proposes steps towards suitable regulation.

What is an autonomous weapon?

Can the use of autonomous weapons ever be ethically sound?

Download the paper

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

See all the latest robotics news on Robohub, or sign up for our weekly newsletter.



tags: , , , , , ,


Alexander Leveringhaus is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (ELAC and Delft University of Technology) and James Martin Fellow (Oxford Martin School).
Alexander Leveringhaus is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (ELAC and Delft University of Technology) and James Martin Fellow (Oxford Martin School).

Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford is a unique, interdisciplinary research community of over 300 scholars working to address the most pressing global challenges and harness the potential opportunities.
Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford is a unique, interdisciplinary research community of over 300 scholars working to address the most pressing global challenges and harness the potential opportunities.


Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack



Related posts :

Robot Talk Episode 147 – Miniature living robots, with Maria Guix

  06 Mar 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Maria Guix from the University of Barcelona about combining electronics and biology to create biohybrid robots with emergent properties.

Developing an optical tactile sensor for tracking head motion during radiotherapy: an interview with Bhoomika Gandhi

  05 Mar 2026
Bhoomika Gandhi discusses her work on an optical sensor for medical robotics applications.

Humanoid home robots are on the market – but do we really want them?

  03 Mar 2026
Last year, Norwegian-US tech company 1X announced “the world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home”.

Robot Talk Episode 146 – Embodied AI on the ISS, with Jamie Palmer

  27 Feb 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Jamie Palmer from Icarus Robotics about building a robotic labour force to perform routine and risky tasks in orbit.

I developed an app that uses drone footage to track plastic litter on beaches

  26 Feb 2026
Plastic pollution is one of those problems everyone can see, yet few know how to tackle it effectively.

Translating music into light and motion with robots

  25 Feb 2026
Robots the size of a soccer ball create new visual art by trailing light that represents the “emotional essence” of music

Robot Talk Episode 145 – Robotics and automation in manufacturing, with Agata Suwala

  20 Feb 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Agata Suwala from the Manufacturing Technology Centre about leveraging robotics to make manufacturing systems more sustainable.

Reversible, detachable robotic hand redefines dexterity

  19 Feb 2026
A robotic hand developed at EPFL has dual-thumbed, reversible-palm design that can detach from its robotic ‘arm’ to reach and grasp multiple objects.



Robohub is supported by:


Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack




 















©2026.02 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence