Automated killer robots 'threat to humanity': expert warning

Dear all,

here is news that should trigger some essential debate over some ethical subject which is related to the research we undertake on autonomous robots:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080227/technology/technology_robots_military_1

This shows that we are far from the famous three laws of robotics which are a set of three rules written by Isaac Asimov. Introduced in his 1942 short story "Runaround", although foreshadowed in a few earlier stories, the Laws state the following:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Can we really implement these even in military activities ?

LHR