By Thomas M. Powers * Adaptation of Programmed Constraints © iSTOCK PHOTO.COM/YANNIS NTOUSIOPOULOS A pproaches to programming ethical behavior for computer systems face challenges that are both technical and philosophical in nature. In response, an incrementalist account of machine ethics is developed: a successive adaptation of programmed constraints to new, morally relevant abilities in computers. This approach allows progress under conditions of limited knowledge in both ethics and computer systems engineering and suggests reasons that we can circumvent broader philosophical questions about computer intelligence and autonomy. Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2010.940152 Date of publication: 14 April 2011 1070-9932/11/$26.00ª2011 IEEE MARCH 2011 * IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE * 51http://www.PHOTO.COM/YANNIS