Autonomous weapon
Encyclopedia
Autonomous weapons are weapon
s capable of accomplishing a mission with limited or
no human intervention. These systems are capable of self-propulsion, independent processing of the
environment, and independent response to the environment.
Autonomous weapons range from semi-autonomous to fully autonomous depending on the degree of
involvement by a man-in-the-loop. In addition, they vary in lethality. Some autonomous weapons operate fully
autonomously in a non-lethal manner, such as surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. These
systems do not possess the capability to engage targets without the consent or control of a man-in-the-
loop. Future AW designs will be able to operate and lethally engage targets autonomously without a
MITL. Examples include the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
's capability of
autonomous underwater de-mining; the U.S. Air Force's Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle and
Autonomous Wide Area Search Munition; the U.S. Army's Future Combat System;
and the U.S. Marine Corps' Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle
.
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s capable of accomplishing a mission with limited or
no human intervention. These systems are capable of self-propulsion, independent processing of the
environment, and independent response to the environment.
Autonomous weapons range from semi-autonomous to fully autonomous depending on the degree of
involvement by a man-in-the-loop. In addition, they vary in lethality. Some autonomous weapons operate fully
autonomously in a non-lethal manner, such as surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. These
systems do not possess the capability to engage targets without the consent or control of a man-in-the-
loop. Future AW designs will be able to operate and lethally engage targets autonomously without a
MITL. Examples include the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
Unmanned underwater vehicle
Unmanned underwater vehicles are any vehicles that are able to operate underwater without a human occupant. These vehicles may be divided into two categories, Remotely operated underwater vehicles , which are controlled by a remote human operator, and Autonomous underwater vehicles , which...
's capability of
autonomous underwater de-mining; the U.S. Air Force's Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle and
Autonomous Wide Area Search Munition; the U.S. Army's Future Combat System;
and the U.S. Marine Corps' Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle
The Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle was a remotely operated unmanned ground vehicle employed by the United States Marine Corps. It is described as the world's first multipurpose combat robot....
.