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Should robots rescue people?

A video podcast of the Digital Society Initiative (DSI)and the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre (SDRC DDPS) of armasuisse Science and Technology addresses the question of why the Swiss Armed Forces could one day also deploy rescue robots. Here, the technical, ethical and legal issues involved are also explained.

18.05.2022 | Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre SDRC DDSP, armasuisse Science and Technology

Illustration debris field with excavator, anymal, robot, drones and people
Graphics of the future with various robots in rescue operations; ©NCCR Robotics

Robots are considered a highly promising resource in disaster relief efforts. They can relieve the workload of the emergency services, increase the efficiency of rescue missions and in particular contribute to the fact that the emergency services no longer have to put themselves in dangerous situations. However, rescuing people is easier said than done. Should robots rescue people?

This video podcast series of the Digital Society Initiative and the Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre of the DDPS will give you insights from different perspectives and from various experts on why the Swiss Armed Forces could also deploy rescue robots in the future.

The podcast shows that the technology is well advanced. However, only the interdisciplinary interaction of all these areas will bring prospects of success regarding whether people can one day be rescued by the deployment of robots.

Video Podcast 1 - Initial situation - Dr. Markus Höpflinger and Pascal Vörös, armasuisse S+T

Video Podcast 2 - Needs on the part of the Armed Forces - Brigadier Stefan Christen, Swiss Armed Forces

Video Podcast 3 - State of the art - Prof. Marco Hutter, ETH Zurich

Video Podcast 4 - Ethical challenges - PD Dr. Markus Christen, DSI

Video Podcast 5 - Legal issues - Prof. Thomas Burri and Juliane Beck, HSG

Video Podcast 6 - Conclusion - Dr. Markus Höpflinger and Pascal Vörös, armasuisse S+T


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