Course in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs
Online 300-hour course in ethics in the civil use of military UGVs. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery), ISO 3691-4 (driverless industrial trucks) and ROS 2. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe UGV technology and its military origins.
Identify viable civil applications of UGVs.
Analyse the ethical dilemmas of repurposing military technology.
Explain the regulatory safety framework for machinery and mobile robots.
Apply risk analysis and safe design principles.
Assess dual-use restrictions in technology repurposing.
Develop a civil repurposing project for a UGV.
Who it's for
- Mobile robotics engineer wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Functional safety engineer wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Technology transfer manager wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Machinery certification technician wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Industrial innovation consultant wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Robotics ethics researcher wishing to specialise in Ethics in the Civil Use of Military UGVs.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter industrial robotics.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- ISO 3691-4 (driverless industrial trucks)
- ISO 13849-1 (safety of control systems)
- ISO 13482 (personal care robots)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual use)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Classification of unmanned ground vehicles1.2Teleoperation, semi-autonomy and autonomy1.3Wheeled and tracked platforms1.4Sensors: LiDAR, cameras and radar1.5Navigation and SLAM1.6Military programmes: PackBot, TALON and THeMIS1.7Explosive ordnance disposal robots1.8Open architectures: ROS and JAUS1.9Technology transfer to the civil sector1.10Workshop: comparative technical sheet of three UGVs
2.1Rescue in collapses and earthquakes2.2Nuclear inspection: Fukushima2.3Firefighting2.4Precision agriculture2.5Mining and tunnel inspection2.6Humanitarian demining2.7Last-mile logistics2.8Civil perimeter security2.9Assistance in industrial CBRN environments2.10Case study: robots at Fukushima Daiichi
3.1Dual use and legitimacy of origin3.2Responsibility across the transfer chain3.3Police robots and use of force3.4The Dallas case in 20163.5Militarisation of civilian security3.6Surveillance and privacy in public spaces3.7Replacement of human employment3.8Social acceptance and trust3.9Justice in access to technology3.10Practice: ethical analysis of the Dallas case
4.1Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery4.2Low Voltage Directive and electromagnetic compatibility4.3ISO 13482: personal care robots4.4ISO 18497: safety of autonomous agricultural machinery4.5Regulations on autonomous vehicle traffic4.6European AI Regulation4.7Dual-use export control4.8Liability for defective products4.9Sensor data protection4.10Practice: requirements matrix for an agricultural UGV
5.1Risk analysis under ISO 121005.2Functional safety under ISO 138495.3Emergency stops and safety zones5.4Interaction with untrained persons5.5Cybersecurity of teleoperation5.6User-centred design5.7Privacy by design5.8Social impact assessment5.9Testing in controlled real-world environments5.10Case study: risk assessment of an inspection robot
6.1Platform and civil application selection6.2Technical requirements analysis6.3Necessary design adaptations6.4Regulatory framework and certification6.5Ethical and social assessment6.6Safety risk analysis6.7Test plan6.8Deployment and governance model6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real UGV simulation procedures in civil environments, machinery risk analysis and technology repurposing case studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe UGV technology and its military origins.
Identify viable civil applications of UGVs.
Analyse the ethical dilemmas of repurposing military technology.
Explain the regulatory safety framework for machinery and mobile robots.
Apply risk analysis and safe design principles.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 total hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
Work is carried out with ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, SolidWorks. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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