The 20th-century saw many attempts to regulate arms. A variety of regulations and treaties were created to address the fears that weaponry could cause more harm then good. These include the bans for nuclear weapons on the moon and orbit, and chemical weapons. These treaties were driven both by civil societies and the general public.
The future of weaponry is likely to be radically different from the past. Miniaturized computing has allowed us to expect molecular machines. This technology can be mass-produced, and it will enable us to create weapons that are smaller but more effective. Nanotechnology can be used to replace chemical weaponry and may also allow for the development of new types of deadly weapons.
One idea has been suggested is the creation self-propelled weapons. These machines would be capable of attacking anything on the battlefield. They would have sensors aboard, which could detect enemies and relay information back to commanders. They would not have radio signals and it would be difficult, if any, to determine who launched them. However, they would also be more difficult to detect and discriminate against noncombatants. These could be used to attack ships or civilians that aren't part of the non-combatant fleet.
China pushed for the UN to ban autonomous weapons in April. According to the Chinese, such weapons can have a destabilizing affect on countries. They also see the need for international law to regulate fully autonomous weapons. However, these ideas are incredibly abstract and difficult to translate to technical terms.
Although it was originally designed to hunt for submarines and mines by the US Navy, it is now being considered as a place for weapons. In the past four years, five meetings were held at the United Nations Geneva on drones. These meetings have not been able to bring everyone together. They have been limited to a week or so, but they have allowed for the delineation of parameters and an exploration of the notion of human control over weaponry.
The development of killer spacecraft is another idea. These machines could shoot balls of "brilliantpebbles" that can knock out ballistic rockets. They could also be used against targets hiding in caves and bunkers. They could be used to hunt or eat human targets.
The future of weaponry will likely be a mix of many ideas. Some people envision machines capable of eating human flesh, while others see superhuman machines. It's clear that biotechnology, computing, and robotics will have a major impact on the future war. This will make the battlefield safer and more humane. It will also help to make war safer and more pristine.
The future could see robots being used to fight on ground and commanders controlling them from distant locations. There will be thousands of sensors on the battlefield, with mini microphones to relay information. These devices will aid in seeding the battlefield and will relay real-time intelligence regarding enemy movements.