Robo-Cop Software Scenario: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) wants to develop robotic policemen for use against heavily armed bank robbers. This might ensure quicker suppression of shoot-outs with less danger to living policemen and innocent bystanders. These robo-cops will be anthropomorphic (look like humans and walk on two legs) and will carry assault rifles and pistols. They will be deployed only in the case of criminals actively engaged in shootouts to further their escape from apprehension. The robo-cops will be programmed to use non-lethal force where feasible, but in cases where the criminals show disregard for public safety by firing weapons indescriminately, they will be authorized to use lethal force. They will be armor plated so that they can approach criminals and absorb some weapon hits without loss of function. However, the robots will be vulnerable at close range to disabling gunfire because sensors and other vital components might be damaged. The robots will be able to compute the safe distance they may approach a gunfiring criminal before they will need to fire back in self defense. The robots will be programmed to shoot to kill. Your software development firm is asked to specify, design, implement, and test the robo-cop software.
Biological Warfare Scenario: The government of a sovereign nation is engaged in the secret development of biological weapons that use anthrax, smallpox, and other disease germs. The government's policy is that the weapons are being used for deterent purposes only, not for a first use. The weapons development team discovers that the biological weapon problem is more difficult than they had first assumed: it seems they need a "smart dispenser" running a sophisticated software program. The nation's government contacts your software firm with a request to specify, design, implement, and test the germ dispenser software.
What Software Engineering Code of Ethics principles are involved in the scenario you chose? Discuss how each one relates to a choice to take on the project. What do you decide and why?
Your team presentation may utilize overhead projector slides (transparencies).
Turn in a paper copy of your slide presentation and paper copies of all four updated documents (OCD, SSRD, SSAD, and FRD).
Turn in a paper copy of your slide presentation and a paper copy of your specification document (non-MBASE) or OCD, SSRD, SSAD, and FRD (MBASE).
Agenda: