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