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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Enrolment open

Course in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems

Online 300-hour course in ethics of autonomy in land systems. 6 modules covering Additional Protocol I, Art. 36 (new weapons review), the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and ROS 2. Personal tutor assigned and enrolment open.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start datesOctober / March
LocationEurope (Madrid)
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Characterise land robotic systems and their levels of autonomy.

02

Analyse the specific ethical challenges of the land environment.

03

Apply ethical design methodologies to autonomous systems.

04

Interpret the regulations and legal review processes for new systems.

05

Assess meaningful human control in different architectures.

06

Evaluate the social, doctrinal and training dimension of autonomy.

07

Produce an ethical assessment of an autonomous land system.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Land robotics engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Functional safety engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Technology ethics analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Legal adviser in international humanitarian law who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Researcher in autonomous systems who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Verification and validation engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Land Systems.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Additional Protocol I, Art. 36 (new weapons review)
  • Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
  • US Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 (autonomy in weapon systems)
  • NATO Principles for the Responsible Use of AI (2021)
  • IEEE 7000-2021 (system design with ethical considerations)
  • ISO 21448 (safety of the intended functionality, SOTIF)
  • UL 4600 (safety of autonomous products)
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Classification of unmanned ground vehicles
  2. 1.2Explosive ordnance disposal and reconnaissance robots
  3. 1.3Logistics mules and casualty evacuation
  4. 1.4Automated perimeter surveillance
  5. 1.5Automated border surveillance towers
  6. 1.6Navigation in unstructured terrain
  7. 1.7Perception with LiDAR, radar and vision
  8. 1.8European programmes such as iMUGS
  9. 1.9Differences between land, air and naval domains
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of an autonomous logistics vehicle
  1. 2.1Proximity to the civilian population
  2. 2.2Distinction in urban environments
  3. 2.3Recognition of surrender and persons hors de combat
  4. 2.4Protection of the wounded and medical personnel
  5. 2.5Use at borders and in migration
  6. 2.6Policing and internal use of armed robots
  7. 2.7Damage to infrastructure and the environment
  8. 2.8Responsibility of land command
  9. 2.9Local perception and social acceptance
  10. 2.10Workshop: civilian interaction scenario at a checkpoint
  1. 3.1Ethics by design in robotics
  2. 3.2Value-sensitive design applied to UGVs
  3. 3.3Built-in operational constraints
  4. 3.4Ethical governor: Arkin's academic proposals
  5. 3.5Criticisms of computational ethics
  6. 3.6Explainability of navigation decisions
  7. 3.7Limits of target selection functions
  8. 3.8Interruption and remote control
  9. 3.9Interface design for operators
  10. 3.10Practice: specification of ethical constraints for a UGV
  1. 4.1IHL and Article 36 review
  2. 4.2IEEE 7000 and 7001 transparency standards
  3. 4.3ISO 13482 and service robots
  4. 4.4ISO/IEC 23894 AI risk management
  5. 4.5Testing in representative environments
  6. 4.6Bias assessment in perception
  7. 4.7Cybersecurity of land vehicles
  8. 4.8Audits and data records
  9. 4.9NATO and EU principles
  10. 4.10Laboratory: bias assessment of a person detector
  1. 5.1UGV employment doctrine
  2. 5.2Ethical training of operators
  3. 5.3Trust and technological dependence
  4. 5.4Impact on the military profession
  5. 5.5Public opinion and media debate
  6. 5.6Role of universities and research
  7. 5.7Humanitarian organisations and their position
  8. 5.8Accountability and transparency
  9. 5.9Future scenarios
  10. 5.10Case study: analysis of the debate on armed police robots
  1. 6.1Selection of the land system
  2. 6.2Operating environment and affected population
  3. 6.3Autonomous functions and level of control
  4. 6.4Ethical analysis of scenarios
  5. 6.5Legal and regulatory analysis
  6. 6.6Ethical design requirements
  7. 6.7Test and audit plan
  8. 6.8Doctrine and training recommendations
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real simulation procedures for land robotics scenarios, autonomy case analysis and design reviews with ethical criteria. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with a rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-focused Master's Thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:a safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, IHL and compliance as its pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Selection of the land system

Characterise land robotic systems and their levels of autonomy.

Operating environment and affected population

Analyse the specific ethical challenges of the land environment.

Autonomous functions and level of control

Apply ethical design methodologies to autonomous systems.

Ethical analysis of scenarios

Interpret the regulations and legal review processes for new systems.

Legal and regulatory analysis

Assess meaningful human control in different architectures.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Land robotics engineerFunctional safety engineerTechnology ethics analystLegal adviser in international humanitarian lawResearcher in autonomous systemsVerification and validation engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

You will work with ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, Python. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.

Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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