We're on the cusp of the next generation of warfare, with killer robots to be discussed at Canterbury University this week.

A forum will assess pros and cons of robots' involvement in conflict, ranging from drones to foot-soldiers.

Hitlab doctoral student Sean Welsh told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking one advantage robots have over humans, is they don't feel emotions.

"If you send a robot over the top it's not going to care about being shot, so it can wait to be shot at before shooting back, which is not what humans are prepared to do."

Experts are discussing views on robots' involvement in conflict at Canterbury University this week.

Welsh says it goes beyond just war, and technology may have prevented co-pilot Andreas Lubitz steering the plane into the mountain.

"Would've been nice if the plane had said to the pilot, 'I'm sorry Fritz, I can't let you do that'."