This report offers insight into the impact of robots, discussing issues ranging from their development to their effect on societies. The report suggests specific recommendations for the ethical implementation of robots in various industries, with a particular focus on transportation, surveillance, and policing.

The report identifies key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues relevant to the discourse on robotic ethics. While robots have the potential to bring significant benefits to different areas, including healthcare and transportation, they can also pose ethical and societal challenges. One of the key ESG issues is the concern over the impact of robots on employment. The report suggests that states, professional organisations, and educational institutions should envisage the implications of robotics on the reduction in job opportunities, paying particular attention to those sections of society most vulnerable to job losses.

Another key ESG issue involves the use of robots in military settings. The report highlights that the increasing use of robotics in conflict affects the protection of civilians and the means of warfare. The report offers recommendations to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law through the responsible use and designing of robotic technologies.

The report offers a technology-based ethical framework that focuses on the key values of autonomy, beneficence, dignity, do no harm, privacy, responsibility, and justice. It suggests that ethical guidelines be integrated into the study programmes for all professionals involved in the design and manufacturing of robots. This will enable consistent regulations from conception to use, ensuring that the values of human dignity and responsibility are considered and maintained.

The report recommends the careful and transparent introduction of new robotic technologies in small-scale settings and the evaluation of their impact on practices, experiences, interpretational frameworks, and values by employing a Value Sensitive Design approach. Also, public discussions should consider the implications of new robotic technologies for social dimensions, including the environmental impact of the entire robot production process to increase public awareness.

Overall, the report identifies the potential for robotics to bring great benefits to societies, but it encourages stakeholders to consider the ethical challenges and ensure that robots function in ways consistent with human values and principles.