Skip to content Accessibility statement
Institute for Safe Autonomy

Institute for Safe Autonomy

Reducing risk - inspiring innovation

We work across academic disciplines, and with partners from industry, policy and society, to safely explore how Robotics and Connected Autonomous Systems can benefit people and the planet.

From driverless cars and remotely monitored ships, to robotic arms and virtual assistants – new technologies which can learn and solve problems independently are transforming the way we live, travel and work. At the Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) our mission is to ensure that these systems, their software, and their communications are safe.

Contact us

"At the Institute for Safe Autonomy, over 100 academics bring together the disciplines that are essential to the safe design, deployment and operation of autonomous systems. We foster a collaborative ethos and we know that ISA's distinctiveness stems from its relevance to today and tomorrow's societal challenges. Nowhere else can you find this unique expertise or focus, and we're proud to build on York's research excellence."

Dr Ana MacIntosh, Co-Director of the Institute for Safe Autonomy.

Research pillars

Design and verification

We are creating and testing safety-centred software and hardware.

Assurance

We are overcoming barriers to regulating and assuring the safety of autonomous systems.

Communications

We are developing resilient and secure communication mechanisms.
Safety focused
The only institute in the UK dedicated to safe autonomy
Independent experts
We work across disciplines and sectors
A living lab
£15m purpose-built facility with dedicated experimental and test spaces
Colleagues in the Institute for Safe Autonomy discussing partnership work

Partner with us

Our independent safety experts are proud to work with partners from industry, government and civil society. ISA was built to facilitate ground-breaking collaborative research that crosses traditional academic boundaries and sectors. Our current projects span transport, healthcare, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, hazardous environments (underwater, space, etc.) and more.

Our experimental laboratories, test spaces and on-site technicians can provide support at any stage of the product life cycle or system development; from initial design through to real-world deployment.

To find out more about how we can help you, visit our work with us page.

News

News

University of York joins Defence Universities Alliance as a founding member

19 July 2026

The University of York has joined the Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) - a major new national partnership launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

News

New CPD course to tackle underwater communication challenges for subsea industries

7 July 2026

The Institute for Safe Autonomy is launching a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course, drawing on the University of York’s world leading expertise in Underwater Acoustic Communication and Networking (UACN).

News

Wood ant project uses drones to monitor forest ecosystems

19 June 2026

Specialised drones and AI are being used to track the health of relocated ant colonies living in hard-to-reach tree canopies, in a new project by researchers at the Institute for Safe Autonomy.

News

John McDermid appointed to Department for Transport’s Science Advisory Council

18 June 2026

Professor John McDermid, Co-Director of the Institute for Safe Autonomy and Director of Centre for Assuring Autonomy (both at the University of York), has been appointed to the Department for Transport’s Science Advisory Council.

More news

https://youtu.be/sMtiGcZTjEI

Funders and collaborators

Research England

ISA was established through joint funding from Research England (via the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund), the Lloyd's Register Foundation and the University of York. 


Contact us
Get in touch
LinkedIn
Visit our LinkedIn page
Research
Our research

Contact us