Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Killer robot used by Dallas police opens ethical debate
Associated Press ^ | Jul 8, 2016 8:04 PM EDT | Michael Liedtke and Bree Fowler

Posted on 07/08/2016 5:10:15 PM PDT by Olog-hai

When Dallas police used a bomb-carrying robot to kill a sniper, they also kicked off an ethical debate about technology’s use as a crime-fighting weapon.

In what appears to be an unprecedented tactic, police rigged a bomb-disposal robot to kill an armed suspect in the fatal shootings of five officers in Dallas. While there doesn’t appear to be any hard data on the subject, security experts and law enforcement officials said they couldn’t recall another time when police have deployed a robot with lethal intent. […]

“If lethally equipped robots can be used in this situation, when else can they be used?” says Elizabeth Joh, a University of California at Davis law professor who has followed U.S. law enforcement’s use of technology. “Extreme emergencies shouldn't define the scope of more ordinary situations where police may want to use robots that are capable of harm.” …

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: copkiller; dallas; lawprofessors; micahjohnson; robot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 161-170 next last
To: rdl6989

Humm,


81 posted on 07/08/2016 5:57:46 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Isn’t that the very definition of situational ethics?


82 posted on 07/08/2016 5:58:55 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

On the upside, he never saw it coming.

Hopefully he wasn’t killed instantly.


83 posted on 07/08/2016 6:00:26 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("It's okay to commit felonies as long as breaking the law isn't your primary objective." James Comey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Who did?


84 posted on 07/08/2016 6:00:50 PM PDT by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

If the rules of engagement let you shoot at him, they let you throw a grenade at him. That’s all this was.


85 posted on 07/08/2016 6:01:44 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("It's okay to commit felonies as long as breaking the law isn't your primary objective." James Comey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

The Guess Who’s “Clap For The Wolfman” changed to “Clap For The Robot”.


86 posted on 07/08/2016 6:01:47 PM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Well “Prof” Prez already uses Drones.

What difference does it make eh?


87 posted on 07/08/2016 6:03:05 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (If you want to live, you'd best repent and ask Christ for Salvation. John 14:6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

I think Police Officers should go out sick when they have these problems in cites that produce all the hate and racial intimidation. It is not worth one officers life to save radical scum.


88 posted on 07/08/2016 6:03:05 PM PDT by Herman Ball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

It’s possible that politics of the situation bore on it, including the fervent desire not to have the administration meddling in his case.


89 posted on 07/08/2016 6:03:48 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Why are you wishing this? It plays into The Game.


90 posted on 07/08/2016 6:04:27 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

One question would be, how much control does the operator have over the machine.


91 posted on 07/08/2016 6:05:38 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

The bomb-carrying bot did not just happen. Bomb bots have various things on the end or their arms, to trigger water blasters or a shotgun used as a disruptor, pull a wire, and so forth, even electrical connections. So that tech was in place.

Someone had to purchase and test a lethal explosive that FITS one of the effectors on the robot. That didn’t happen in a day. ( I saw a robot with a SAW gun and telescopic sight once)

I assume the device was tested by SOMEONE because if I’m the chief and you came up to me saying I know! Let’s put a hand grenade on the robot and send it in! I’d want assurance that it will go off only where and when it’s supposed to, that the bad guy isn’t going to grab it, and that it will be sufficiently incapacitating or lethal. I don’t think anyone would choose to wing it.

So this capability has probably been around for a while. This is the first time it’s been deployed, but how many PDs can do this and just have not yet?
And how long before some jeenyus bad guy realizes that he can get a bomb deploed without getting shot at?


92 posted on 07/08/2016 6:06:19 PM PDT by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai
Killer robot used by Dallas police opens ethical debate

There is nothing to debate. This is coming whether people like it or not.

"Swarm bots" are being developed right now. They are cheap, have magnificent control, and will eventually be loaded with explosives and sent to kill whomever their master directs them at.

We are entering Sky Net. There is no debate, it's coming and if you don't like it, you can rage in impotent frustration.

93 posted on 07/08/2016 6:07:20 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert San Diego

“What will we men do, if critical numbers of women are just as happy to snuggle up with their robot?????”

Learn to cook?


94 posted on 07/08/2016 6:11:34 PM PDT by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

Was it an actual robot or a remotely operated delivery system?


95 posted on 07/08/2016 6:13:45 PM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll eventually get what you deserve)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai
Mayor W. Wilson Goode, of Philadelphia.........Dropped a bomb from a Bell Ranger helicopter onto the Move rooftop compound to kill them. Of course he burned down 20 square city blocks as a consequence, but he was the first bomb the perps pioneer.

Then of course there was Janet Reno and Waco, but that's another decade.

96 posted on 07/08/2016 6:13:50 PM PDT by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

I don’t disagree but point out some assumptions you’re making:
He didn’t pose a threat to the public.
He didn’t pose a threat to police.
Those assumptions may well turn out to be unfounded.

I’m pretty sure this armored guy would have gone out in a hail of bullets and may have got a ‘lucky’ shot or two more in.
Never mind the public danger of having a sniper on a 6th floor.

We’ll see.


97 posted on 07/08/2016 6:13:52 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

Appropriate here, I’d reference the Clint Eastwood movie where he’s in a car pursued by a RC model car packed with explosives. I think it was “Magnum Force.”


98 posted on 07/08/2016 6:14:18 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DiogenesLamp

The question will continue to boil down to, who has control over this stuff.

They sent a robot, but a sufficiently armored person or vehicle could have done it too.


99 posted on 07/08/2016 6:15:29 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: Olog-hai

“No robots were harmed in the production of this video.”


100 posted on 07/08/2016 6:15:51 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 161-170 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson