Man-In-The-Loop (MITL): A model of automation where a human operator is a mandatory and active participant in the decision-making sequence. In this framework, the autonomous system cannot complete a critical action—most notably the delivery of lethal force—without a deliberate and positive command from the human. The system’s primary role is to aggregate data and present engagement options, while the operator retains final authority over the execution of the task. MITL is the current standard for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations, ensuring that moral and legal accountability for kinetic actions remains strictly with a human decision-maker rather than an algorithm.
