Robotics and law: Key legal and regulatory implications of the robotics age (Part I of II)**

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2016.03.001Get rights and content

Abstract

In this edition, we explore some of the legal, regulatory and ethical implications of robots and robotic systems and applications. We begin by giving our view of why this emerging technology will become increasingly prevalent and why it is important that lawyers and regulators play an important role in its development. We go on to address the key legal, regulatory and ethical issues in respect of specific types of robotics, including automated vehicles and healthcare robots. We also focus on the impact that robotics will have on core legal practice areas, including data protection, intellectual property, consumer protection and commercial contracting. Our objective is to identify the key legal and regulatory implications of robotics, and to start a dialogue about how our existing legal framework might need to adapt and change to meet the demands of the robotics age. In the next edition, we will continue our focus on key legal issues in respect of different types of robotics and core legal practice areas relevant to the discussion.

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Guest Editorial – David Bisset, Founder of Itechnic LTD**

Robotics and autonomous systems is being hailed as the fourth industrial revolution. Its impact will be felt more widely than either the computer or communications revolutions that preceded it. This special edition explores this impact in the context of the law and the role the law will have in shaping products and services that employ robots and deliver autonomy.

While the computerisation and widespread communication of data has transformed and disrupted various industries, the addition of

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    Two examples would be laparascopy done by the da Vinci systems1 and the Magellan system deployed for cardiac surgery.2 Surgical robots are widely used for a range of treatments [17, 388], for example for hernia and intestinal cancer.3 Their increased usage are not without consequences, and criticisms of specific surgeries has started to occur, primarily aimed at the lack of empirical research that makes their efficiency likely.4

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David Bisset has worked in robotics for 24 years. The founder of iTechnic Ltd, he is currently responsible for the Strategic Research Agenda, the Multi-Annual Roadmap and the work programme focus for robotics in Horizon 2020 for euRobotics aisbl, the private side of the Robotics Public Private Partnership, SPARC, within the RockEU coordination action. He currently chairs the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Advisory Board (RAS-SIG-AB) under the KTN/Innovate UK, contributed extensively to the recently published UK robotics strategy (July 2014) and was responsible for the UK robotics landscape document.

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