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Foresight review of robotics and autonomous systems

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This foresight review explores the safety implications of co-existing with robotics and autonomous systems.

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Executive summary

Smart, connected machines, or robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), are transforming how we work and live. They act and sense in the real world, generating large quantities of data, using artificial intelligence (AI) to reason and interact. They have numerous practical applications, including:

  • Autonomous and semiautonomous cars
  • Bespoke manufacturing systems and 3D printers
  • Robotic fulfilment centres that assemble, package and dispatch goods
  • Drones
  • Assistive exoskeletons
  • Interactive companions

The drivers for this revolution are primarily economic – these systems make us more productive, mobile and connected. However, as they are deployed alongside humans, it's important to build each robot and RAS system safely so it acts appropriately in all situations, including failure. This review looks at robots and autonomous systems through this lens, and explores opportunities to improve safety outcomes in industry and beyond.

There are multiple ways robots and autonomous systems are being used to improve safety:

  • Partial control systems like aircraft autopilot
  • Remote inspection of critical infrastructure
  • Operating in hazardous environments
  • Assisting in safety-critical situations such as surgeries

This review identifies several challenges to the safe adoption of RAS:

  1. RAS can have an enhancing role in the safety certification and assurance of assets. However, they themselves must be similarly certified and assured, or they will become the limiting assurance factor of the complete system. A potentially disruptive development is in systems with embedded RAS that can self-certify to some assurance level during operation, impacting safety but also insurance and assurance business models.

     

  2. Many RAS operate in environments that are unpredictable. Designing predictable safety into the behaviour of RAS where unknown events can take place requires a different approach. Since RAS can learn and adapt, they may predict behaviours or change how they make decisions. It's crucial to ensure that this learning process is accurate and safe, with risks managed to an acceptable level.

     

  3. There are challenges associated with RAS interactions with human operators. Operators make poor decisions when a RAS unexpectedly hands over control, unless they have maintained a thorough situational awareness. Operators with poor situational awareness who do not trust a robot or RAS may override it leading to catastrophic failure.

     

  4. We need to ensure RAS are secure from cyber-attacks. Similarly, RAS should not be able to override human, ethical and moral factors. For RAS to behave appropriately these have to be captured and condensed into guidelines that are coded in to the RAS design.

     

  5. The public must trust their RAS if they are to be adopted. This also requires public support and contribution in developing the ethical frameworks that underpin robot and autonomous system behaviour. Fears about the nature of disruption in the jobs market should also be addressed. Skills development and training for teachers, technicians, engineers, scientists and in business can create value and increases safety. Living laboratories in existing infrastructure can have a key role to play. 

This report finishes by recommending areas of further work that will help ensure the safety benefits from RAS are realised. These include issues of: openness and sharing; assurance and certification; security and resilience; and of public trust, understanding and skills.

Citation

If you wish to use and reference Foresight Review of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, please include the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.60743/mx3w-jf48.

Example Citation in Harvard Style:

Lloyd's Register Foundation (2016) Foresight review of robotics and autonomous systems. Lloyd's Register Foundation. doi: 10.60743/MX3W-JF48.

Download the Foresight Review

Foresight Review of Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Robotics and autonomous systems are supporting us, working alongside us or alone, making independent decisions and even learning - but what are the safety implications of this? (PDF, 5.61MB)