Defining Autonomous Weapon Systems: A schematic framework for refined purpose-driven definitions
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The literature on autonomous weapon systems (AWS) includes many proposed definitions for these (types of) systems, with core disagreements between scholars, governments, and international regulatory bodies. In this article, we present and critique prevailing (classes of) definitions, arguing that what is needed is not a singular definition, but rather a definitional framework which allows one to classify different sorts of AWS within the same conceptual family. Recognizing we cannot foresee all future AWS, we show how variations on a broadly accepted definition can be used to produce a definitional schema which can be easily modified in order to classify various concepts belonging to the class of AWS.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Lundgren, Björn, Wood, Nathan G.
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225185214