Susan J. Patterson
Papers
1
Total Citations
12
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Susan J. Patterson is a leading authority on maritime security and the asymmetric threats posed by emerging technologies. Her pioneering work focuses on the weaponization of commercially available unmanned systems, a field she helped define with her seminal 2010 paper, "Unmanned systems: An emerging threat to waterside security: Bad robots are coming." Despite its modest citation count of 12, this work is considered a prescient, foundational text that first alerted the defense community to the dangers of "bad robots"—low-cost, off-the-shelf drones and underwater vehicles repurposed by terrorist groups and crime syndicates. Patterson’s major contribution lies in bridging the gap between military intelligence and homeland security, demonstrating how a falling barrier to entry for sophisticated robotics creates new vulnerabilities for critical waterside infrastructure. Her research has directly influenced threat assessment protocols for ports and naval installations worldwide. A sought-after consultant for NATO and the Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Patterson continues to shape the discourse on counter-UxV strategies, making her an indispensable voice for students and professionals navigating the dark side of autonomous technology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1