Let Robots do the Dying - Hardcover

Simon Ramo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 193280093X ISBN 13: 9781932800937

Publisher: Figueroa Press, 2011

Synopsis

From the Introduction (by John S. Foster, Jr.) - This is an important book about a very important national security opportunity for the United States. It concerns the future security of this nation and is written by a scientist-engineer and technical corporation founder who may have been analyzing such matters successfully for more years than any other living American. This book is loaded with predictions. This makes it pertinent to note the author s past success in that art. For the same reason this is a text book on how to think about important national security problems. In this book Ramo predicts that a coming partnership of man and robot will come to characterize the American military. He makes the case based on several key factors: the critical need for U.S. security at lower costs (in view of our severe national budget deficits), the U.S. public s growing refusal to support prolonged battle casualties, and the demand for fewer American forces overseas. An author writing about such matters requires not only a strong science and technology background but wide experience in government, private industry operations, and the consequences on society.

About this title

About the Author:

Utah born Simon Ramo received a Ph.D. degree magna cum laude from the California Institute of Technology. A pioneer in electronics research and development, he was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Carter. Ramo has been a leader in developing technology for national defense, becoming the chief scientist and technical director of the U.S. s largest defense program, the ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile). He received the U.S. s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Reagan. Ramo has been a founder and principal executive of several successful hi-tech corporations, including TRW Inc (Thompson Ramo Wooldridge). As one of the nation s most successful hi-tech entrepreneurs, businesses he founded or co-founded were acquired later by General Electric, General Motors, Boeing, Honeywell, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. He was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement award of the Smithsonian Institution. Ramo s texts in science, engineering, and management have been translated into numerous foreign languages and are utilized in universities throughout the world. Ramo s text on electromagnetic fields and waves, a basic subject for students in physics and electrical engineering, became the standard text in universities everywhere. Published in eight languages including Russian and Japanese, it has sold over one million copies. His Extraordinary Tennis for the Ordinary Player holds the sales record for books on tennis. A year before the Soviet Union s launching of SPUT-NIK, Ramo founded Space Technology Laboratories Corporation, which became the first corporation to win a U.S. spacecraft contract. It produced the first spacecraft to visit the outer planets and the first to go beyond the Solar System into outer space. An accomplished violinist, he played duets with Jascha Heifetz.

Review:

No one is better qualified than Simon Ramo to present and examine all aspects of the unmanning of our defense systems - the seduction of robots and their underlying technology, the challenge of creating a robust cyber policy, and the danger of over-simplifying this new man-machine partnership. This book is a must read for anyone interested in America's national security. --William J. Perry, former U.S. Secretary of Defense

Si Ramo can see around corners. When he speaks it is wise to listen. --Norman Augustine, former CEO, Lockheed Martin

Simon Ramo captures the essence of how emerging technology should be harnessed to address serious national challenges and offers thought-provoking predictions. --Ron Sugar, Member, Board of Directors, Apple Computer

About this edition

• Publisher: Figueroa Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 193280093X
• ISBN 13: 9781932800937
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160