The Ethical Governor is based on an actual project to formulate a code of ethics for unmanned, autonomous warfare.

Georgia Tech started this project partly in response to the Haditha massacre in Iraq, where US marines slaughtered civilians in the nearest town, following a roadside bomb attack.

The current thinking was that autonomous systems would not be affected by uncontrolled rage, and would base their actions on the 'laws of war'.

This echoes the origins of the Nazi gas chambers. One of the reasons they were designed was to alleviate the psychic toll imposed on Wermacht soldiers having to execute by firing square or hanging.

Economy of scale, and general industrial efficiency must also have been a factor, of course.

.