Course in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems
Online course of 300 h in ethics of autonomy in unmanned systems. 6 modules covering the US DoD Directive 3000.09 (2023), UL 4600 (safety of autonomous products) and ROS 2. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Classify the levels of autonomy of unmanned systems.
Apply the main ethical theories to autonomy.
Describe the applicable international legal framework.
Define the concept of meaningful human control and its requirements.
Apply UL 4600 and ISO 21448 to safety argumentation.
Integrate ethical considerations into the engineering lifecycle.
Prepare an ethical assessment of an unmanned system.
Who it's for
- Autonomous systems engineer seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Engineering ethics adviser seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Functional safety engineer seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Defence policy analyst seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Researcher in human-machine interaction seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Systems assurance consultant seeking to specialise in Ethics of Autonomy in Unmanned Systems.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- US DoD Directive 3000.09 (2023)
- UL 4600 (safety of autonomous products)
- IEEE 7001-2021
- Guiding Principles of the CCW GGE (2019)
- Additional Protocol I (1977), Art. 36
- ISO 21448 (SOTIF)
- NATO Principles of Responsible Use of AI (2021)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Classification: UAV, UGV, USV and UUV1.2Levels of autonomy: Sheridan and PACT models1.3Perception, decision and actuation architectures1.4Teleoperation, supervision and full autonomy1.5Critical functions: selection and attack1.6Non-lethal uses: surveillance, logistics and demining1.7Autonomous maritime and underwater systems1.8Historical examples of defensive automation1.9Recent technological trends1.10Case study: classifying the autonomy level of five systems
2.1Human dignity and decisions about life2.2Moral responsibility and agency2.3Arguments in favour of autonomy2.4Arguments against autonomy2.5The responsibility gap2.6Ethics of distance and remote warfare2.7Psychological effects on remote operators2.8Military virtue ethics and autonomy2.9Cultural and religious perspectives2.10Workshop: structured debate for and against
3.1IHL: distinction, proportionality and precaution3.2Martens Clause3.3Weapons review under Article 363.4Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and its GGE3.5Law of the sea and autonomous vessels3.6Air law and unmanned systems3.7State and criminal responsibility3.8Position of Spain and the European Union3.9Civil society initiatives3.10Practice: legal review of an autonomous maritime system
4.1Definitions and approaches to human control4.2Control in design, deployment and use4.3Human-machine interaction and situational awareness4.4Automation bias4.5Constraints on environment, time and target4.6US Directive DoD 3000.094.7ICRC principles on limitations4.8Traceability and decision records4.9Operator training4.10Laboratory: designing a supervisory interface
5.1AI risk management under ISO/IEC 238945.2Verification and validation of autonomous systems5.3Simulation testing and edge-case scenarios5.4Perception reliability in adverse environments5.5Cybersecurity and adversarial manipulation5.6IEEE 7000 and ethical system design5.7Documentation and transparency5.8Independent audits5.9Engineer's responsibility5.10Case study: analysis of an incident involving an autonomous system
6.1Selection of the unmanned system6.2Concept of employment and environment6.3Autonomy level of each function6.4Ethical analysis using several frameworks6.5International legal analysis6.6Meaningful human control measures6.7Design and use recommendations6.8Audit and monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied using real procedures for analysing autonomy levels in simulation, assessing meaningful human control, and case studies. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Classify the levels of autonomy of unmanned systems.
Apply the main ethical theories to autonomy.
Describe the applicable international legal framework.
Define the concept of meaningful human control and its requirements.
Apply UL 4600 and ISO 21448 to safety argumentation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical regulations.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses ROS 2, Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink, Python. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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