As robotic systems move from the controlled environments of industrial labs into homes, workplaces, and public spaces, the ethical and legal frameworks governing their use have become a critical priority. This transition requires an increased focus on human-robot interaction (HRI) to address the inherent challenges of deploying autonomous systems among a diverse range of people in different contexts.
Lydia Kavraki, University Professor, the Kenneth and Audrey Kennedy Professor of Computing in the Department of Computer Science, and the director of the Ken Kennedy Institute at Rice University, recently served as a guest editor for a special issue of IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine dedicated to these concerns. Titled "Robot Ethics: Ethical, Legal, and User Perspectives in the Development and Application of Robotics and Automation," the issue explores how to make robots more acceptable and trustworthy through responsible research and innovation.
A Global Collaboration on Robot Ethics
The special issue was a collaborative effort involving an international team of experts. Kavraki co-edited the piece alongside Jim Torresen (University of Oslo), Cecilia Laschi (National University of Singapore), Edson Prestes (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), Praminda Caleb-Solly (University of Nottingham), and Yueh-Hsuan Weng (Tohoku University).
Several members of this editorial group also serve as co-chairs of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Technical Committee on Robot Ethics. Their collective work emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of the field, drawing from computer science, social sciences, and philosophy to ensure robotic systems co-evolve with human societies.
Research Highlights and Focus Areas
The publication features ten peer-reviewed articles that bridge the gap between ethical theory and practical engineering. These contributions represent a global perspective.As discussed in the journal issue, “The main objective of the special issue is to raise awareness; prompt debate; and share knowledge about ethical, legal,and user/social perspectives for robot assistants operating in personal and public environments with humans.”Key themes include Safety and Standards, Inclusive Design, Regulation and Risks, as well as ethical issues arising in the domains of Social Robotics, Assistive Robotics, Service Robotics as well as Urban and Soft Robotics.
From Workshop to Journal
The foundation for this special issue was established during the IEEE ICRA 2024 Workshop on Robot Ethics in Yokohama, Japan. Following the workshop, authors were encouraged to submit extended versions of their work, all of which underwent rigorous peer review.
By raising awareness and prompting debate about the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of robotics, Kavraki and her colleagues aim to provide a state-of-the-art overview for the research community. As the editors note, identifying ethics challenges is fundamental to ensuring that robotic systems promote human agency and humane values rather than undermining them.