Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles Course
Online 300-hour course in ethics of automation in military vehicles. 6 modules covering ISO 26262 (functional safety in road vehicles), ISO 21448 (SOTIF) and CARLA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles Course — 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: €448 (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
Describe the levels of vehicle automation according to SAE J3016.
Apply ethical theories to automated decisions.
Analyse the legal framework and human control.
Evaluate safety and reliability in accordance with ISO 26262 and ISO 21448.
Study human factors and social acceptance.
Propose safeguards for responsible design.
Carry out an ethical assessment of an automated vehicle.
Who it's for
- Autonomous vehicle engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Functional safety engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Technology ethics advisor who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Human factors researcher who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Defence policy analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Validation engineer who wants to specialise in Ethics of Automation in Military Vehicles.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO 26262 (functional safety in road vehicles)
- ISO 21448 (SOTIF)
- SAE J3016 (levels of automation)
- UL 4600
- US DoD Directive 3000.09 (2023)
- Additional Protocol I (1977), Art. 36
- NATO Principles for the Responsible Use of AI (2021)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Levels of automation in land vehicles1.2Automated functions: mobility, logistics and protection1.3Leader-follower convoys1.4Driver assistance and active protection1.5Unmanned ground vehicles for support1.6Difference between automation and autonomy1.7Experience with explosive ordnance disposal robots1.8Trends in European programmes1.9Actors: industry, armed forces and academia1.10Case study: analysis of an automated convoy programme
2.1Consequentialist and deontological ethics2.2Virtue ethics and the military profession2.3The just war tradition2.4Engineering ethics and the designer's responsibility2.5The value of human life and risk to the soldier2.6Dilemmas of replacing the human being2.7The responsibility gap2.8Ethics of care and the human-machine relationship2.9Value-sensitive design2.10Workshop: analysis of a dilemma using several theories
3.1International humanitarian law and automated vehicles3.2Review of new weapons under Article 363.3CCW debate on autonomous systems3.4Meaningful human control3.5Criminal and civil liability3.6Traffic rules and military vehicles3.7Manufacturer liability3.8NATO principles for the responsible use of AI3.9National AI strategies in defence3.10Practice: legal review of an automated function
4.1Functional safety according to ISO 262624.2SOTIF according to ISO 214484.3Verification of perception software4.4Edge cases and rare scenarios4.5Cybersecurity according to ISO/SAE 214344.6Interaction with civilians and unstructured environments4.7Failures and degraded modes4.8Simulation and field testing4.9Traceability of decisions and data logging4.10Laboratory: risk analysis of a tracking function
5.1Trust and overtrust in automation5.2Loss of operator skills5.3Workload and supervision5.4Training and doctrine5.5Social acceptance of automated vehicles5.6Impact on military employment5.7Public communication and transparency5.8Diversity of cultural perspectives5.9Stakeholder participation5.10Case study: human factors assessment of a convoy
6.1Selection of the automated system6.2Description of functions and context of use6.3Stakeholder and values map6.4Applicable legal analysis6.5Risk and reliability assessment6.6Human control measures6.7Design recommendations6.8Ethical monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CARLA, MATLAB/Simulink, ROS 2, Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for simulating autonomous driving scenarios, functional safety analysis and an ethics assessment workshop. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the levels of vehicle automation according to SAE J3016.
Apply ethical theories to automated decisions.
Analyse the legal framework and human control.
Evaluate safety and reliability in accordance with ISO 26262 and ISO 21448.
Study human factors and social acceptance.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
You work with CARLA, MATLAB/Simulink, ROS 2, Python. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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