Legged Robots in the Real World
Technologies funded by the United States Department of Defense have resulted in extraordinary innovations, unlocking major improvements to the quality of life of humanity at large. These include the internet (originally the Department of Defense’s ARPANET), modern jet-based air travel (developed by U.S. Army Air Corps), and GPS (developed by the U.S. Air Force), to name a few. One such technology, four-legged robots such as those developed by Ghost Robotics, have clear and evident societal benefits based on their demonstrated ability to transfer risk from humans to robots.
Ghost Robotics’ innovations have proven invaluable in emergency situations. These include class-leading battery life, legs that can be replaced in the field, and operation in all-weather including extreme rain, mud, snow, and heat.
When the 2024 Noto earthquake struck the Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, the shaking and subsequent tsunami caused widespread destruction in the region. The Japanese Self-Defense Force turned to Ghost Robotics machines to scout evacuation routes and support the relocation of the most at-risk residents. Canadian Nuclear Labs fitted the robot with a sensor to map radiation levels, preventing unnecessary exposure to humans. Closer to home, both AT&T FirstNet and Verizon Frontline have partnered with Ghost Robotics to adopt the legged robots for first response and disaster relief applications.
The advance of new technologies always brings challenges in the determination of their ethical use, and these issues must be acknowledged and addressed. Robots, for example, have often been framed as “evil” in literature and film, from HAL 9000 in 2001 A Space Odyssey, to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, and more recently, Black Mirror. These autonomous machines operated outside the control of humans and behaved highly unethically. In the real world, however, companies that produce legged robots have the power to ensure that these machines do not behave like their science fiction counterparts.
Toward this end, robot manufacturers have tried various strategies. Some legged robot manufacturers have weighed in on this topic by releasing an open letter stating that “general purpose legged robots should never be weaponized.” Ghost Robotics applauds the spirit of this letter. Crucially, however, the term “general purpose” is never defined. Words have power, but even with the best intentions, questions justifiably arise as to the efficacy of this ambiguous pledge. Case in point, videos have emerged of the Chinese Army testing weaponized versions of robots from one of the letter signers, Unitree Robotics.
Ghost Robotics believes that regulation can be achieved by employing the same measured, carefully-articulated, and strictly-enforced rules as are found in other industries. Instead of splitting hairs on definitions, Ghost Robotics’ view is that in a democracy such as ours, the role of policy is so critical that it should be determined by the elected government and not by individual companies. The United States already has a longstanding and very considered record in this area. One such policy is DoD Directive 3000.09, which governs the ethics, limits, and assignment of responsibility for developing and using weapons systems that are remotely operated or operate with some autonomy. Moreover, The Department of State regulates which potential customers and countries can have access to cutting-edge U.S. technologies.
As a leader in legged robots for real-world applications in dangerous environments, Ghost Robotics is uniquely positioned to inform and collaborate with stakeholders – researchers, end users, elected officials, and legal scholars – to ensure that the policies created are effective, actionable and ethical. Ghost Robotics is actively involved in this area, including its participation in the 2024 conference at University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, which addressed the ethical use of robots in government applications. There is much difficult work to do in this area, and it cannot be overly simplified. For this reason, Ghost Robotics pledges to continue its participation in this and other relevant industry and governmental stakeholder communities. The ethical use of legged robots will continue to reduce people’s exposure to physical risks in varied settings, and be a critical part of the strategy to protect human life and defend the values of liberty and democracy.