Week 5 Cyberattacks on Robotic Systems

CSIA 459 7381 Evaluating Emerging Technologies

Week 5 Cyberattacks on Robotic Systems Karl Smith University of Maryland Global Campus 2023-2024

CSIA 459 7381 Evaluating Emerging Technologies

Automation and effectiveness previously unattainable by robots have been made possible by rapid advancements in digital technology. This might have an impact on the future interaction between people and robots, for better or worse. There is a considerable probability that, in the future, we will see robots doing a range of tasks in public places, including security and cleaning. It is possible that robots will have a significant impact on both the overall quality of human existence and the safety, creativity, and mood of public spaces. It is possible that robots will be able to cause mayhem in public places and social interactions if this trend continues. As previous public policy initiatives to harness and govern disruptive technology have shown, although robots in public places have immense potential, they also pose a significant danger of unintended consequences for citizens.

On the other hand, one of the significant risks interlinked with the paradigm of robotic technology’s implication in public places is based on the regulatory requirements. Mintrom, et al. (2021) further revealed that all regulations, which mainly permit, prohibit, and/or regulate the robotic system in public arenas are based on attainment of license from the regulatory and legislative bodies. Hence, it is considered that all government leaders who are indebted to launch the robotic technology in public spaces are first entitled to acquire license from the legislative body. Once the license is obtained and/or acquired, then it becomes compulsory for the regulatory authorities and government leaders to make sure that all other crucial laws and regulations are followed. For example, the robotic technology installed in the public should not harm citizens, hence; the Citizen Right Act must be followed.

Apart from this, it is also believed that setting up a robotic system in public space turns out to be more challenging in the situation where insecure robotic systems are placed in any public area. An investigation led by Guerrero-Higueras, DeCastro-García, & Matellán (2018) revealed that the insecure robotic technology is vulnerable to experience hacking and/or cyberattacks. In this concern, it is believed that the notion of placing insecure robotic systems in public places can raise certain risks where the robotic system may start to behave

CSIA 459 7381 Evaluating Emerging Technologies

inappropriately after getting hacked, and it may even harm people. The respective statement can be further approved by reviewing the example of the Megatron robot that got hacked at the theme park in Beijing (SCMP, 2021). After getting hacked, it malfunctioned; and thus, started to behave inappropriately with children. Furthermore, the robot even refused interact, cooperate, or even take pictures with visitors. In this way, it becomes evident that the issue pertaining to the use of insecure robotic technology can raise regulatory concerns for governmental leaders and/or institutions. In this concern, it has been recommended that proper permission must be acquired from the legislative body to place the robot in public places, and the robot should be fully secured via cloud technology to prevent being hacked.

Other than this, the robotic technology should be thoroughly updated to prevent malfunction, and thus make the technology less vulnerable to cause harm to individuals in public places.

CSIA 459 7381 Evaluating Emerging Technologies

References Guerrero-Higueras, Á. M., DeCastro-García, N., & Matellán, V. (2018). Detection of Cyberattacks to indoor real time localization systems for autonomous robots. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 99, 75-83.

Mintrom, M., Sumartojo, S., Kulić, D., Tian, L., Carreno-Medrano, P., & Allen, A. (2021). Robots in public spaces: Implications for policy design. Policy Design and Practice, 116.

SCMP. (2021). ‘Foul human’: Megatron robot at Beijing theme park scolds visitor. (2021).

Retrieved 21 March 2022, from https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trendingchina/article/3149822/ megatron-robot-beijing-theme-park-scolds-refuses

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