Robotics experts testified at the Massachusetts State House last week in support of legislation promoting the safe, ethical use of robotics statewide. The panel included Tom Ryden, executive director of MassRobotics, Kelly Peterson, assistant general counsel of compliance at Boston Dynamics, and Grant Baker, senior manager of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).
They testified in favor of S.1208, a bill that is currently making its way through the Massachusetts legislature. The “Act to ensure the responsible use of advanced robotic technologies” outlines rules and regulations to ensure people use robots responsibly.
If it’s passed, S.1208 would make it unlawful to modify, sell, or operate a robotic device equipped with or mounted with a weapon. Additionally, it would make it unlawful to use a robot to threaten to commit a crime, physically restrain, or harass another person.
The legislation outlines some exceptions to these rules. It doesn’t apply to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its various departments and agencies, the Massachusetts National Guard, and defense industrial companies within the scope of contracts with the DOD. It also includes special permissions for those who obtain a waiver from the attorney general for testing or educational purposes.
The Act also included exceptions for law enforcement officers to use robotics to diffuse or dispose of explosives, destroy property when there is an imminent threat of death, and for testing and training purposes.
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