Killer Robots

era

a period of time, usually in history

drone

aircraft with no pilot, controlled from the ground

fully-fledged

completely developed

implication

a possible result of an action or decision

to conceive of

to imagine, to think of

insurgent

a person fighting against the government of their own country

to scuttle about

to move quickly

intelligence (here)

secret information

reconnaissance

exploration to gain knowledge or information

locust

a type of grasshopper

swarm

to move together as a large group

kinetic energy

energy associated with movement and motion

profound

very serious

game-changer

a person, idea, or event that completely changes the was a situation develops

robotics

the science of designing and operating robots

tactics

moving soldiers and military equipment around during a battle or war in order to use them in the most effective way

doctrine

government policy or a set of beliefs

ethics

moral values

anti-personnel landmines

bombs placed under the ground, designed to harm or kill people

autonomous

able to control itself

to unleash

turn loose or free from restraint

mere

used to emphasize how small or insignificant someone or something is

repulsive

disgusting/offensive

concept

idea

to comply with

to obey a rule or an order

rules of engagement

the rules that govern how wars are conducted

atrocity

a cruel or violent act

combatant

soldier

non-combatant

civilian, one not engaged in combat

casualty

A person killed or injured in a war or accident

judicious

careful and sensible; showing good judgement

lobbyist

someone whose job it is to influence government policy

to proliferate

to increase rapidly

disservice

to do something that harms someone

to slaughter

to kill

converntional

traditional

to engage (here)

to begin fighting

intervention

the involvement in a situation to alter the outcome

to emerge

appear

to deploy

to move soldiers or weapons into a position where they are ready for military action

moratorium

an officially agreed temporary ban

to oppose

to fight against something