Robotic soldiers march on

For many countries, a robotic soldier is the ideal weapon. Attacking the enemy from a remote location or some distance offers advantages of reduced body count

An intriguing question is being intensely debated in labs, boardrooms and ministerial gatherings in many countries — should robots be soldiers? Should soldiers be robots?

Rhetorical as it may be, the fact is that robotic war systems are moving beyond concept to actual usage. Remotely managed drone systems with weaponised capability have been used for almost a decade now. The Obama administration would be remembered for triggering the deployment of weaponised drones in conflict zones. Other countries too have brought remotely managed drones for attacks and assassinations. 

This wave of killing machines are called lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWs), or simply killer