The author examines the ethical implications of a new Pentagon research grant to develop autonomous packs of robots that would hunt down humans ominously referred to as "noncooperative human subject[s]."

Authors Wendell Wallach and Colin Allen argue that we need to work out how to make robots into responsible and moral machines. It is just a matter of time until a computer or robot takes a decision that will cause a human disaster, they say.

Robot lovers and outsourcing opponents could soon have something in common: the fear that their jobs are at stake. In the future robots will take over many tasks performed by American workers today potentially leading to increased unemployment, says Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works.

The Pentagon is looking for contractors to provide a "Multi-Robot Pursuit System" that will let packs of robots "search for and detect a non-cooperative human" invoking ethical concerns about roving packs of robots with tasers chasing down demonstrators.

Roboticist David Hanson is focusing on humanistic, playful robotics as a response to his fears that too much focus on coldly rational techonolgy will lead to someone "accidentally creat[ing] a super-sentient artificial intelligence that is heartless and clinically insane."

As more and more countries field advanced military robots, some researchers are beginning to question the ethics of using autonomous weapons in military operations and are calling for more research into engineering ethical safeguards.

A dotcom millionare has started a company specialising in anti-robot weaponry, forseeing "lucrative business opportunities in suppressing the inevitable rogue killbots and machine rebellions to be expected in coming years."

Intelligent swarms of autonomous, decentralized robots that look like insects could soon be deployed for military information-gathering and reconnaissance.

A growing number of experts say it is time for broad discussion of how and by whom geoengineering should be used, or if it should be tried at all. Similar questions are being raised about nanotechnology, robotics and other powerful emerging technologies. There are even those who suggest humanity should collectively decide to turn away from some new technologies as inherently dangerous.

Killer robots which can change their shape to squeeze under doors and through cracks in walls to track their prey are moving from the realms of science fiction to the front line in the fight against terrorism.