(Taken from: Richard G. Epstein, The Case of the Killer Robot, Wiley & Sons, presented by Ronald J. Kizior, Loyola University, Chicago)

Summary of the case: Bart Matthews, a robot operator at Cybernetics, Inc., has been killed by an out-of-control robot named Robbie. The creator of the robot, Silicon Technologies, is also in a tight financial position and had hoped that the robot would put the company back on its feet.

It has been determined that several situations contributed to the death of Matthews:

1. Improper methodology was used in developing the software.
2. Testing of the software was faked.
3. The company pressured Robbie’s creators to by-pass testing.
4. Part of the software used in the robot was stolen from another vendor’s application.
5. The programmer did not understand or know the code which he used.
6. Security measures used were illegal, and therefore all information gathered in regard to the case might not be permissible in court.
7. The project leader did not understand or use proper design methodologies.
8. The end-user interface was designed improperly.

Questions for students:

• Who is at fault?
• Which situations are unethical?
• Which situation is the major contributor to the death of Bart Matthews?

This case could be the basis of a class discussion and debate or, as Dr. Kizior uses it, as the topic of a paper.

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