Autonomous systems are rapidly transforming commercial and defense sectors, and government must take swift action to manage risks while leveraging opportunities. A priority set of actions for the incoming administration are outlined for consideration.
Autonomous Systems and Counter-Autonomy: Positioning the U.S. for Economic and Security Advantage
What’s the issue? Autonomous systems are rapidly revolutionizing commercial and defense sectors. As the ubiquity and capabilities of these systems increase, the potential for exploitation grows proportionally, sometimes outpacing regulatory policy and physical safeguards.
What did we do? MITRE’s experts analyzed the use and capabilities of autonomous systems in both commercial and defense applications and leveraged first-hand experience to develop recommendations addressing the challenges and opportunities identified.
What did we find? The breadth of applications on the horizon for integration of autonomous systems across the defense, commercial, and transportation sectors necessitates a whole-of-government approach to mitigate risks and capitalize on the opportunities these technologies present. The establishment of policies and procedures to address defense, regulatory, and legal aspects of autonomous systems, combined with persistent monitoring of the state of the technology and investments in domestic R&D, will enable the United States to maintain a technical edge over adversaries, protect critical infrastructure, and capitalize on opportunities for autonomous systems to integrate smoothly into existing domestic infrastructure.