That weapon, which more than 30 countries want to ban, technology is such that it is difficult to believe

The ‘killer robot’ of science-fiction films has now come out of the screen and has reached the battlefield in reality. Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) are changing the definition of war. These are those weapons which, without any human intervention, automatically identify their target and destroy it. This is the reason why today a big debate has erupted about them at the international level. More than 30 countries want a complete ban on these weapons, because the question is not only of technology but also of morality. Today we are writing in detail about these weapons and the technology installed in them.

After all, what are autonomous killer drones?

Autonomous killer drones are basically machines that perform three important tasks in war – 1. Finding the target, 2. Identifying it and 3. Attacking it. The human only activates them, after that the entire decision goes into the hands of the machine’s algorithm and artificial intelligence.

These weapons are generally divided into three categories-

• The first category is the one in which human approval is required before attacking.
• In the second category, the machine can take decisions, but if a human wants, he can intervene and stop it.
• The third category is the one in which humans have no role at all. These are considered the real LAWS and the most concern is being expressed about them.

The entire system runs on Artificial Intelligence

The strength of these killer machines is their artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art sensor systems. Many types of sensors are installed inside the drone, which continuously scan the surrounding environment.

LiDAR technology prepares a 3-D map of the area with the help of laser. Thermal cameras can detect human body heat even in darkness, while radar can detect activities going on at a distance. By combining the information received from all these sensors, the drone creates a complete picture of its surroundings.

After this AI based deep learning system works. It is trained on millions of photos and data. By analyzing the pictures received from the camera, it can decide in a few milliseconds whether the target visible in front is a soldier, a military vehicle or a common citizen.

The most controversial step comes after this, when the algorithm decides whether to attack or not. This is called Threat Assessment Algorithm. In this, the machine takes decisions considering many aspects like threat level, people present around and military importance, but human morality is not included in it.

How does it attack?

These drones have GPS as well as advanced technologies for navigation. For example, with the help of SLAM technology, the drone itself can map the surrounding area and decide the route. Even if the GPS signal gets jammed, it does not forget its path.

Sometimes these drones are also used in groups, which is called swarm technology. In this, many drones work by forming a network among themselves. If one drone receives any information, it immediately reaches all the other drones.

“Loitering munitions” are often used for attacks. Such drones hover in the sky for a long time and as soon as they find the target, they directly hit it and explode. Some drones drop missiles or bombs, while some can also conduct cyber or electronic attacks to jam the enemy’s electronic systems.

Which such weapons exist in the world?

• Israel’s Harop drone is considered a prime example of this technology. It hovers in the air for hours and as soon as it receives a signal from the enemy’s radar, it itself goes and attacks it.
• ZALA KYB developed by Russian company Kalashnikov is also considered to be a similar autonomous attack drone.
• America and Australia have jointly developed a combat drone named Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which can fly with manned fighter planes and take many decisions on its own.
• Türkiye’s Kargu-2 drone has already become a cause of international debate.
• According to a United Nations report, it was seen for the first time in Libya in 2021, when an autonomous drone attacked people without human orders.

After all, why do more than 30 countries want a ban?

The biggest concern about these weapons is that Artificial Intelligence can also make mistakes. If an algorithm mistakes a common citizen for a soldier, the consequences can be extremely dangerous.

Apart from this, the danger of cyber attack is also big. If an enemy hacks these machines, then the same weapons can be used against his own soldiers. In case of a swarm drone attack, it can be very difficult to stop hundreds of machines simultaneously.

The questions regarding morality are deeper than this. Should a machine be given the right to decide whose life is to be taken? If any mistake happens, who will be responsible? Of the programmer who made the software, of the army officer or of the company that developed the drone?

Due to these concerns, more than 30 countries including Austria and New Zealand are demanding a complete ban on these weapons in the United Nations. But many big military countries like America, Russia, China and Israel are opposing it, because they believe that this technology can give a strategic edge in future wars.