ABSTRACT
While robotic responses in general can be encoded using either discrete or continuous approaches as mentioned in Chapter 6, for behaviors charged with the application of weapons they will be considered as a binary discrete response (r), i.e., the weapon system is either red with intent or not. ere may be variability in a range of targeting parameters, some of which involve direct lethal intent and others that do not, such as weapon ring for warning purposes (a shot across the bow), probing by re (testing to see if a target is armed or not), reconnaissance by re
(searching for responsive combatant targets using weaponry), wounding with nonlethal intent, or deliberate lethal intent. ere may also be variations in the patterns of ring both spatially and temporally (e.g., single shot, multiple bursts with pattern, suppressing re, etc.) but each of these will be considered as separate discrete behavioral responses rij, all of which, nonetheless, have the potential eect of resulting in lethality, even if unintended. e application of nonlethal weaponry-for example, Tasers, sting-nets, foaming agents-also can be considered as discrete responses, which although are technically designated as nonlethal responses can also potentially lead to unintentional lethality. ey are sometimes referred to as less-lethal weapons, rather than nonlethal, for that reason.
