The rise of robots and the implications for military organizations

Abstract

This thesis explores the reasons for the inevitability of the extensive use of robots in military organizations, projects the adoption timeframe for robots in military organizations, proposes how robots might evolve, assesses the impact of robots on military organizations and suggests the way forward for military organizations to facilitate the adoption of robots. Macro environmental trends suggest that the use of robots is the way forward for military organizations. The thesis projects that the adoption rate of robots will pick up from this point forward and will reach market saturation in a matter of decades. The use of robots has physical, functional, and behavioral implications for military organizations, and their increasing numbers will affect how militaries are organized and alter the existing organizational processes in the long term. Military organizations will benefit from a better understanding of the impact of robots and the resulting challenges. Taking the necessary steps to mitigate the challenges and facilitate the evolutionary transition for the military organizations will allow these organizations to reap the benefits of robots and to operate effectively in the changing macro environment.