The Second Law of Robotics dictates that a machine must comply with human commands unless those commands conflict with the First Law, which prevents harm to humans. Originally formulated by Isaac Asimov, it serves as a foundational thought experiment in AI safety and machine ethics. Engineers use it as a conceptual baseline when designing override protocols for autonomous systems.
We need a hard stop button on the pendant to satisfy the Second Law of Robotics before we let this arm run in auto.
Related terms
First Law of Robotics
A foundational concept in science fiction stating that a robot may not injure a human being or allow a human to come to harm.
Third Law of Robotics
A conceptual rule stating that a robot must protect its own existence.
Three Laws of Robotics
A set of ethical directives devised by Isaac Asimov to govern autonomous machine behavior.