1sr Draft

Scratch Outline

Research Questions:

*How should Japanese government limit military robots in the future?

Thesis Statement:

Japan should consider about potential danger of development of military robots and control from abuse of military robots as a robot advanced country.

I. Introduction

          A. Background Information

          B. Thesis Statement

II. Military Robots

          A. Advantages

                     1. No injury for human

                     2. Remote Control

III. Effects of military robots

          A. Effects on human society

                     1. Accidents on citizens

                     2. Easiness of war

          B. Effects on humanity

                     1. Operator’s humanity

                     2. The first law of “Three Law of Robotics”

IV. Military robots in Japan

         A. The situation

1. Introduction to the nuclear power plant disaster

2. Japanese robotic in danger

V. Conclusion

Ｅｓｓａｙ

How should limit Japan military robots?

Do you know the film whose name is “Terminator?” If so, do you believe such a horrible story? In the story of “Terminator”, a killer robot, the terminator is sent from the future world to kill a lady. This story seems to just a science fiction, but in this real world, the killer robots: the military robots actually exist. Military robots that include drones which are unmanned airplane help the military on battlefield to search and remove bombs, to kill hostile soldiers by remote control system and to examine the battlefield (Soat). The major country which uses military robots is the United States. The United States’ drone account for 31% of all military robots in 2012 and it means almost one-third of the United State warplane is a robot (Ackerman). Moreover, one in fifty of the United State military in Afghanistan is a robot in 2011 (Axe). In other hand, Japanese stance of war is just self-defence because Japanese ninth constitution is against war and maintenance of war potential (Constitution), but military robots must be war potential. However, Japan is called as robot advanced country and Japan occupies the biggest robot market in the world in 2011 (“Industrial”). Thus, there is the possibility that the time when Japan naturally uses and produces military robots will come. Therefore, Japan should consider about potential danger of development of military robots and control from abuse of military robots as a robot advanced country.

There are some advantages to use military robots instead of human soldiers in the battlefield. First, which is the biggest advantage is military robots can perform their missions without actual danger, loss of human lives (Xian). Robots can play active roles in dangerous environment, hence the possibility of success of missions may be higher than human soldiers in dangerous environment. It will be possible to defend human soldier by removing them from dangerous missions, such as defusing bombs. Moreover, if robots brake by being shot down, the military just change it the new one. Another advantage of using military robots in dangerous environment, fewer soldiers are needed (Marchant). It will be able to divide missions between human soldiers and military robots by entrusting dangerous missions to military robots. Also, it is possible to expand the battle space to more dangerous area (Marchant). Remote control system of military robots is another strong point to use military robots. It allows not only to scout battlefields but also to kill hostile soldiers by just controlling military robots (Xian). Human soldiers do not have to injury hostile soldiers directly. Drone is often used and advantages over manned airplane are cheaper and reduce the risk of pilot’s lives (Callam). Therefore, military robots can be of benefits to human soldiers to reduce their risk to combat in dangerous environments.

In the other hand, there are serious effects of military robots on human society and humanity. First, military robots have serious impact on human society. The most serious one is accidents on citizens. For example, in Pakistan between January 2006 and April 2009, drone killed 14 al Qaida leaders but also 607 citizens were killed (Sharkey). It is quite a few damages. Such a serious accident happens because of the difficulty of recognizing difference between citizens and soldiers. There are not specific differences between them, so the accidents will not disappear (Sharkey). Moreover, the military robots are worried about connection to the easiness of the war. To send military robots instead of human soldiers who are friends and relatives reduce both physical and emotional damage (Marchant). Therefore, not to lose human life, the war will occur more easily. Also, if autonomous military robots are introduced, the possibility of war will increase further. In addition to this, the military robots also influence on humanity. The military robots, especially drones are operated remotely and human operate by just sitting in front of the computer screens. These operators are trained only six weeks and they can operate far from the real battlefield, in operator’s own country whose surrounding is peaceful (Sharkey). Therefore, operators are under stress. Statistics show the percentage of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 12 to 17 percent, but nearly half of drone operators have PTSD (Bumiller). They cannot grant the killing situation by just watching the computer screen. They may suffer that they can kill hostile soldiers in peaceful environment. In the first place, effect on humanity is against “Three Law of Robotics” which is advocated by Isaac Asimov. The first law says “A robot may not injure a human being, or, through interaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” (Sawyer). To consider this law, military robots do harm humanity. Thus, military robots have harmful influences on both human society and humanity.

 Recently, Japan introduced military robots to reduce radiation from the nuclear plants in Fukushima prefecture. The United States sent the military robot which is used in Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of bomb. This robot is controlled remotely and it move on uneven place, so it is suitable for detecting radiation and dangerous environment (The). Therefore, this military robot saves Japan from dangerous. However, Japanese robotic faces to serious situation. According to the TV program whose name is “Close-up Gendai” says Japanese robots are being as the target of the military purposes. Foreign military companies ask Japanese private robot companies to provide high technique of Japanese robotics. For example, the country which manufactures boat robots for geographical survey is asked to provide it for military purposes. This is against original purpose of Japanese company. In the other side, the Japanese self-defence forces introduce robots for working in abroad because this job involves many risks. Thus, Japan face to difficult decision how to limit military robots in the future.

In conclusion, it is needed for Japanese society to control military robots by making a policy. Japanese stance of robotic should be a symbol of dream and hope. In order to be it, Japan should use military robots only for peaceful purposes. The market of military robots may be huge and it will be a big business. However, Japan should not entry into it. Also, Japan should not import and export military robots for military purposes. As a robot developed country and war against country, Japan should show the firm stance for military robots. 

Works Cited

Ackerman, Spencer, and Shachtman, Noah. “Almost 1 In 3 U.S. Warplane Is a Robot.” Danger Room. Wired. 9 Jan. 2012. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.

Axe, David. “One in 50 Troops in Afghanistan Is a Robot.” Danger Room. Wired. 7 Feb. 2011. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.

Bumiller, Elisabeth. “Air Force Drone Operators Report High Levels of Stress.” Global Edition Asia Pacific. The New York Times. 18 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Callam, Andrew. “Drone Wars: Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.” International Affairs Reviews. StudioMDH. Volume XVIII, No. 3: Winter 2010. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.

Constitution of Japan. Text of politics and economics. Published by Hamashima-syoten. 2011.

“Industrial Robot Statistics.” International Federation of Robotics. International Federation of Robotics, 2012. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.

Marchant, E. Gary. “International Governance of Autonomous Military Robots.” International Relations And Security Network. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.

NHK, Close-up Gendai. “Nihon Robot ha Doko he. Towareru Gunji Riyou.” Veoh. Veoh. 13 Apr. 2009. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Sawyer, Robert. “Isaac Asimov’s Three Law of Robotics”. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

Sharkey, Noel. “Killer robots a ‘danger to civilians’.” Metrowebukmetro. Metro. 3 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 Jan. 2013

Soat, John “U.S. Military Robots Of The Future: Visual Tour.” Information Week Govenmnt. Information Week Government. 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.

The Yomiuri Shimbun. “Many countries helping Japan tame N-plant.” Daily Yomiuri Online. Daily Yomiuri. 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.

Xian Jun Leong. “How Things Work: Military robots.” The Tartan. Carnegie Mellon’s Student Newspaper. Apr. 7 2008. Web. 5 Jan. 2013.