Research Assignment: Human Factors, Ethics and Morality
Gabriel P. Riccio
ASCI
638 Human Factors in Unmanned Systems
Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University-Worldwide
8
March 2018
Human Factors, Ethics and Morality
UAS Warfare
The ideal of Unmanned Aerial Systems
(UAS) operating in a combat environment has been realized by militaries
throughout the world; the United States (U.S.) has been weaponizing UAS since
2001 (O'Connell, 2010). Initially the military primarily used UAS for
reconnaissance operations; however, since the 9/11 attacks on U. S. soil, the
Department of Defense has used UAS as attack platforms in several countries, including
Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Pakistan (O'Connell, 2010). The use of UAS as attack platforms is viewed as
an “unqualified success” by U. S. leadership (O'Connell, 2010, p. 10).
Human Factors
Even though UAS pilots operate armed air vehicles from remote
Ground Control Stations (GCS) they can suffer from the effects of depression
and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD); similar to that of any other soldier
on the battlefield (Pilkington,
2015). To cope with the human factors
stresses associated with killing, one UAS pilot remarked that he had to not
think of the enemy targets as humans but just images on a screen or ants (Pilkington,
2015). A study completed by the Armed
Forces Health Surveillance Center concluded along with other experts that UAS
pilots may suffer from higher mental health issues due to the human factors
associated with the job (Dao, 2013).
Some specific reasons for the mental issues are a result of the extreme
stresses of combat, viewing the violence and carnage for days at the same
location, isolated working environment, along with demanding work schedules and
shift hours (Dao, 2013). Other human
factors UAS pilots deal with are problems with automation, situational awareness,
trust, mode confusion, system observability, and complacency (Kiernan, 2015).
Ethical and Moral Issues
The U.S government legally justifies the use of armed UAS as
attack platforms if the mission meets the following criteria; there is an
imminent threat, capturing the targets are not a reasonable option, and the
mission is a military objective consistent with the law of war (Freilberger, 2013). Arguments against the utilization of armed
UAS reference the “Just War Tradition” or in other words, fighting a war
ethically (Johansson, 2011). The tenants of ethical and moral warfare are
summed up as being a just cause, for the right intentions, it must be of
legitimate authority, all other options have been exhausted, there is a
reasonable chance of winning, the methods used are proportionate, only military
targets are attacked, attacks are carried out as a necessity, and the use of
weapons is in accordance with international laws (Johansson,
2011). The ethical and moral argument is
made that attack UAS can be a catalyst to start a war since they are unmanned,
their use is unfair to the enemy, promotes secret wars, they do not follow the
“Just War Tradition”, and the technological errors associated with their use is
too risky (Johansson,
2011). Manned aircraft may mitigate some
but certainly not all of the ethical and moral arguments against attack
UAS. Since they are manned, there may be
debate among leaders if the risks to human pilots warrant an aerial attack and
there may be more restraint in attacking targets; other than that, the ethics
and morals are essentially the same.
Continued Use
of Attack UAS
Attack UAS should continue to be
used by the military. The decisions to
attack should be carefully analyzed and legal.
At no time should the rules of engagement be contrary to society’s
standard for norms nor violate the rules of warfare. Collateral damage is of great concern and
every effort should be made to reasonably mitigate it to the lowest possible
level and every mission should be weighed in terms of importance, risk, and
damage. Concerted efforts must continue
to improve UAS technologies to ensure there are minimal mistakes in UAS
attacks. Eventually, UAS will be fully autonomous
and should be embedded with algorithms that enable the system to effectively
communicate with the human-in-the-loop so as to make informed decisions and
select the best course of action before attacking an enemy target.
References
Dao, J. (2013, February 22).
Drone pilots found to get stress disorders much as those in combat do.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/us/drone-pilots-found-to-get-stress-disorders-much-as-those-in-combat-do.html?_r=0References
Freilberger, E. (2013, July
18). Just war theory and the ethics of drone warfare. Retrieved from http://www.e-ir.info/2013/07/18/just-war-theory-and-the-ethics-of-drone-warfare/
Johansson, L. (2011). Is it morally right to use unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) in war? Philosophy & Technology, 24(3), 279-291.
10.1007/s13347-011-0033-8
Kiernan, K. M. (2015,
January). Huma
factors considerations in autonomous lethal unmanned aerial systems.
Paper presented at Aviation/Aeronautics/Aerospace International Research
Conference, Phoenix, AZ.. Retrieved from
https://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2015/Friday/22/
O’Connell, M. E. (2010). Unlawful killing
with combat drones. A case study of Pakistan, 2004-2009 (09-43).
University of Notre Dame Law School. Retrieved from https://www.law.upenn.edu/institutes/cerl/conferences/targetedkilling/papers/OConnellDrones.pdf
Pilkington, E. (2015, November 19). Life
as a drone operator: 'Ever step on ants and never give it another thought?'.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/18/life-as-a-drone-pilot-creech-air-force-base-nevada
