How has the research landscape for safe autonomous systems changed?
Interest, research, and funding in the area of safe and trusted autonomous systems and AI has increased hugely in the five years since AAIP began.
Helen Niblock is Head of Regional Engagement (North East, Yorkshire and Humber) at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. We spoke with Helen about her work in this field and how the landscape has changed since 2018.
Contact us
Assuring Autonomy International Programme
assuring-autonomy@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 325345
Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, Deramore Lane, York YO10 5GH
Research funding for autonomous systems
The EPSRC’s vision is for the UK to be recognised as the place where the most creative researchers can deliver world-leading engineering and physical sciences research. AI is one of the largest growth areas for EPSRC funding: the AI Technologies portfolio increased from £56M in 2016 to £128M in 2022 and the AI training portfolio increased from £31M to £102M in the same timeframe.
Helen works across the region to understand the research and innovation taking place, identify synergies, and make connections. As part of this, Helen connects with the AAIP team. EPSRC also lead the UKRI-funded £33M Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) programme, which launched in 2020. Its vision is to enable the development of socially beneficial autonomous systems that are both trustworthy in principle and trusted in practice by the public, government, and industry.
What impact has AAIP had?
Funding for research and application projects using AI has increased significantly over the lifetime of the AAIP. York’s influence is particularly apparent in the TAS programme:
York influenced the topics of the nodes within the programme leading to an open competition as to who got funding. [AAIP team members] were involved in conversations with EPSRC during the development of the TAS business case and this involved the topics of the nodes. These conversations influenced the strategy and priorities of the programme.
Following an open competition, York was one of the recipients of this £33M programme. Specifically, the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Node in Resilience, led by AAIP's Professor Radu Calinescu.
Guidance and publications
York has also had a wider influence on the system as a result of AAIP's guidance and publications.
York’s work on safety and policy have made a massive contribution to the wider landscape. The Body of Knowledge has been a big piece of work which has been very useful to academics and professionals as well.
AMLAS is a useful way of ensuring safety is built into each stage of product design and implementation. Guidance is a good way of doing influencing practice, depending on how widely it is adopted. As it is a constantly evolving area I would expect to see that guidance also evolve.
What if AAIP hadn’t been involved?
Helen sees our emphasis on safety assurance as a defining feature of the Programme.
There was no framework in place and if York hadn't been doing that work, I don't know who would have done it.
Contact us
Assuring Autonomy International Programme
assuring-autonomy@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 325345
Institute for Safe Autonomy, University of York, Deramore Lane, York YO10 5GH