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About

Mark Howard’s research sits at the critical intersection of robotics, ethics, and public policy, exploring how autonomous systems reshape everything from agriculture to warfare. His most influential work, “Robots in agriculture: prospects, impacts, ethics, and policy” (245 citations), provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how agricultural robots could transform food production while raising urgent questions about labor displacement, environmental impact, and regulatory oversight. In “When human beings are like drunk robots: Driverless vehicles, ethics, and the future of transport” (181 citations), Howard provocatively examines how autonomous vehicles challenge our assumptions about moral responsibility and decision-making on the road. His work on naval robotics addresses the profound legal and ethical implications of unmanned systems in maritime warfare, particularly their compatibility with the Geneva Conventions’ requirements for rescuing the shipwrecked and wounded. While some of his more speculative work—like explorations of sex robots as social influencers—has garnered fewer citations, it demonstrates Howard’s willingness to tackle the full spectrum of human-robot interaction. Through his scholarship, Howard has become a leading voice in ensuring that as robots enter our fields, roads, and seas, we thoughtfully consider not just what they can do, but what they should do.