Artificial intelligence, autonomous drones and legal uncertainties

Jacques Hartmann; Eva Jueptner; Santiago Matalonga; James Riordan; Samuel White

doi:10.1017/err.2022.15

Artificial intelligence, autonomous drones and legal uncertainties

Jacques Hartmann^*, Eva Jueptner, Santiago Matalonga, James Riordan, Samuel White

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Drones represent a rapidly developing industry. Devices initially designed
for military purposes have evolved into a new area with a plethora of
commercial applications. One of the biggest hindrances in the
commercial developments of drones is legal uncertainty concerning the
legal regimes applicable to the multitude of issues that arises with this
new technology. This is especially prevalent in situations concerning
autonomous drones (i.e. drones operating without a pilot). This article
provides an overview of some of these uncertainties. A scenario based
on the fictitious but plausible event of an autonomous drone falling from
the sky and injuring people on the ground is analysed from the
perspectives of both German and English private law. This working
scenario is used to illustrate the problem of legal uncertainty facing
developers, and the article provides valuable knowledge by mapping real
uncertainties that impede the development of autonomous drone
technology alongside providing multidisciplinary insights from law as well
as software electronic and computer engineering.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	31-48
Number of pages	18
Journal	European Journal of Risk Regulation
Volume	14
Issue number	1
Early online date	3 Aug 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2022.15
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2023

Keywords

drones
aviation
autonomous
tort

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1017/err.2022.15Licence: CC BY 4.0

2022 06 30 Hartmann et al Artificial finalFinal published version, 340 KBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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abstract = "Drones represent a rapidly developing industry. Devices initially designedfor military purposes have evolved into a new area with a plethora ofcommercial applications. One of the biggest hindrances in thecommercial developments of drones is legal uncertainty concerning thelegal regimes applicable to the multitude of issues that arises with thisnew technology. This is especially prevalent in situations concerningautonomous drones (i.e. drones operating without a pilot). This articleprovides an overview of some of these uncertainties. A scenario basedon the fictitious but plausible event of an autonomous drone falling fromthe sky and injuring people on the ground is analysed from theperspectives of both German and English private law. This workingscenario is used to illustrate the problem of legal uncertainty facingdevelopers, and the article provides valuable knowledge by mapping realuncertainties that impede the development of autonomous dronetechnology alongside providing multidisciplinary insights from law as wellas software electronic and computer engineering.",

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AU - Hartmann, Jacques

AU - Jueptner, Eva

AU - Matalonga, Santiago

AU - Riordan, James

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Y1 - 2023/3/31

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AB - Drones represent a rapidly developing industry. Devices initially designedfor military purposes have evolved into a new area with a plethora ofcommercial applications. One of the biggest hindrances in thecommercial developments of drones is legal uncertainty concerning thelegal regimes applicable to the multitude of issues that arises with thisnew technology. This is especially prevalent in situations concerningautonomous drones (i.e. drones operating without a pilot). This articleprovides an overview of some of these uncertainties. A scenario basedon the fictitious but plausible event of an autonomous drone falling fromthe sky and injuring people on the ground is analysed from theperspectives of both German and English private law. This workingscenario is used to illustrate the problem of legal uncertainty facingdevelopers, and the article provides valuable knowledge by mapping realuncertainties that impede the development of autonomous dronetechnology alongside providing multidisciplinary insights from law as wellas software electronic and computer engineering.

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Artificial intelligence, autonomous drones and legal uncertainties

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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A review of the legal, regulatory and practical aspects needed to unlock autonomous beyond visual line of sight unmanned aircraft systems operations

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