Technology and World Change: Military Equipment Evolution

This essay examines the transformative impact of technology on the world, with a specific focus on its evolution within the realm of military equipment. The narrative begins with prehistoric tools and progresses through the invention of gunpowder, underwater weaponry, and the rise of automated machines. It highlights the shift from manual labor to mechanical efficiency and the emergence of unmanned vehicles like drones and ROVs. The essay discusses the advantages of these technologies, such as reduced casualties and increased accuracy, while also addressing ethical concerns regarding artificial intelligence in warfare and the potential for increased conflict. Furthermore, it explores the application of drones in civilian life, including their use in environmental conservation and medical assistance, and the associated legal challenges. The essay concludes by emphasizing the latest evolutions of technology and the ethical and legal issues that have come along with it.

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The evolution of technology over the years has brought about radical transformations in
almost all aspects of life. The first technological advancements date back to pre-historic times
when humans applied their rationale to invent new tools and equipments that would enhance
their efficiency in achieving any desired target (Usher 2013). The invention of powered
machines root to the basic need of substituting physical labour with machine-driven performance
remotely controlled by humans. Latest technological developments have given rise to automated
machines that do not require any human supervisor to function properly. While technology
continues to bring changes in daily lives, this essay concentrates on its evolution in respect to
military equipments.
Dawn of civilization was soon followed by clashes within and between various groups
and tribes. Mastering at the art of warfare required innovative instruments, giving birth to bows
and arrows, the first recorded weapons in the history of civilization. The 9th century saw the
invention of gunpowder which was one of the most revolutionary advancements in the field of
military and took the technology of warfare one step ahead of others (Dincecco and Onorato
2016). Soon after the invention of gunpowder a variety of explosive weapons like fire arrows,
tanks and bombs replaced primitive weapons like bows and arrows. Technology further evolved
in the 18th century to give rise to under water weaponry like submarines and under water
warships, which effectively changed the contemporary naval warfare scenario (Capecchi 2013).
The Germans were the first to extensively use submarines during the first world war, to destroy
and sink opposition warships.
The main objective behind technological advancements has always been to replace
manual labour with mechanical efficiency and accuracy. Unmanned vehicles or robots are
usually controlled by Artificial Intelligence or remotely controlled by human supervisors. The

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biggest advantage of unmanned war machines is that they can function independently, reducing
life-risk of a military personnel; and they also function from places where the military cannot
reach. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, are example of auto-pilot war machines which have
proven to be relevant because of-- reduction in civilian casualties, efficient destruction of High
Value Targets, reduction in life-risk and increased accuracy at a cost-effective fashion (Anderson
and Gaston 2013). UAVs continue to send live updates back to the military troops, in form of
real-time images. Similarly, ROVs refer to under-water vehicles that are remotely operated by
military troops. The emergence of ROVs paved way for under sea warfare with benefit of under
sea surveillance, defence mechanisms and remotely controlled attacks. Identifying under water
land mines and clearing them subsequently without putting a military personnel at life-risk
proves to be a huge development in the field of technological warfare. Through vivid
surveillance with the help of tethered devices, it becomes easier for the marine troops to keep an
eye on under water activities and therefore protect their respective regions. Technology is now
focusing on anti-submarine warfare where the use of automated ROVs prove to be extremely
useful in detecting submarines and tracking them for long distances. Though the issues regarding
fully automated ROVs still remain, it still proves to be a much more efficient and cost-effective
alternative for military purposes.
As the use of automated war machines remain a highly debatable topic, there are two
main ethical concerns related to it. On one hand, ROVs provide artificial conscience which make
them bound to the ethics of fighting war, unlike human conscience which might momentarily
violate the ethics by allowing or performing illegal activities. On the other hand, easy access to
inexpensive warfare technologies and increased life-security for military personnels increase the

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probability of economically backward countries to join the war, increasing the scope for
recurrent and more brutal wars.
Vehicles on ground with attached GPS and cameras can be used as personal guides,
directing passengers to their desired destinations, without any human assistance. Singapore’s
V15 is a breakthrough for its ability to take off and land vertically. Its speciality is that it can
connect with another unmanned system on ground and use it as a landing platform. Singapore
has taken progressive steps regarding the application of drones in daily lives. The Singapore
government recently approved the Unmanned Aircraft Bill, setting rules and regulations on the
usage of the same (Chen 2017).
Drones can now be used to spot endangered species in their natural habitats and keep a
track on them (Sandbrook 2015). Various illegal activities like animal poaching and smuggling
can now be easily detected and removed from the system. A German company named Height-
Tech is using super fast drones to get urgent medical help in interior areas where ambulance
cannot reach. The main legal challenge faced by the use of unmanned systems is the breach in
privacy and safety due to easy access to surveillance. Another major legal issue would be the
ambiguity regarding the liability of the vehicle (Rosén 2014).
To conclude, unmanned vehicles are the latest evolutions of the technological era that has
set the world a step ahead, in spite of the ethical and legal issues.

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References:
Anderson, K. and Gaston, K.J., 2013. Lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles will revolutionize
spatial ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(3), pp.138-146.
Capecchi, D., 2013. Over and undershot waterwheels in the 18th century. Science-technology
controversy. Advances in Historical Studies, 2(03), p.131.
Chen, S., 2017. The regulatory framework for aerial imaging by recreational users of" drones" in
Singapore: Old and emerging issues and some possible solutions. Singapore Academy of Law
Journal, 29(1), p.126.
Dincecco, M. and Onorato, M.G., 2016. Military conflict and the rise of urban Europe. Journal
of Economic Growth, 21(3), pp.259-282.
Rosén, F., 2014. Extremely stealthy and incredibly close: drones, control and legal
responsibility. Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 19(1), pp.113-131.
Sandbrook, C., 2015. The social implications of using drones for biodiversity
conservation. Ambio, 44(4), pp.636-647.
Usher, A.P., 2013. A history of mechanical inventions: revised edition. Courier Corporation.