CEIAI Governance Database
Back to the database
Record STMT-W4EC78DAspirational

Autonomy as Concept in Robot Ethics

Position paper State lawGlobaladopted

This academic paper examines the meaning of autonomy in robotics through conceptual analysis and language critique, distinguishing technical empirical-descriptive autonomy from normative human autonomy. It introduces six forms of technical tools to describe levels of technical autonomy and summarizes them in a heuristic scheme for ethical, legal, and social debates. The work was supported by the EU Horizon 2020 INBOTS project.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

SpringerIndustry
Publisher
Legal forceAspirational
Under whose authorityState law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

Researchers and academicsGeneral public

Researchers and scholars exploring robot ethics, the philosophy of technology, and the conceptual definition of artificial intelligence and robotics autonomy.

Sectors
Research and science · robotics research and robot ethics

What the document contains

What's covered

The paper examines the conceptual definition of autonomy in robotics, compares technical descriptive autonomy with human normative autonomy, and proposes a heuristic scheme with six levels of technical tools for ethical and legal debates.

What's missing

It does not provide binding regulatory rules, legal frameworks, or direct enforcement mechanisms for robotics deployment.

Key takeaways
  • The empirical-descriptive application of autonomy in technical contexts differs from the normative usage of autonomy in human societies.
  • Conceptual analysis and language critique help clarify what autonomy in robotics actually means.
  • An embodied approach in the philosophy of technology allows for the introduction of six forms of technical tools to describe levels of technical autonomy.
  • A heuristic scheme can set up clearer applications of the word autonomy in ethical, legal, and social debates regarding robotic technologies.
Outline
· Abstract
· Introduction to Autonomy as a Concept
· Conceptual Analysis and Language Critique
· Six Forms of Technical Tools and Levels of Autonomy
· Heuristic Scheme for Ethical, Legal, and Social Debates
Issued30 July 2019
Length1,282 words
FormatNot recorded
Scopeglobal

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

0/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

screening score · 2026-10-24

Fairness

0/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Dignity

0/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

0/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

0/5

Protection of personal data and private life

screening score · 2026-10-24

Transparency

0/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

0/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

0/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

Physical AI Governancesupporting
robot_ethics autonomy philosophy_of_technology conceptual_analysis inbots_project