Good robot design needs to be reponsible, not just responsive

Robots have become commonplace in many aspects of life including health care, military and security work. Yet until recently little thought has been given outside of academic circles to the ethics of robots. Silicon Valley Robotics recently launched a Good Robot Design Council -- which has launched "5 Laws of Robotics" guidelines for roboticists and academics -- on the ethical creation, marketing and use of robots in everyday life. Robots should comply with existing law, including privacy. Robots are products; they should be safe, reliable and not misrepresent their capabilities.