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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.

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"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

High-altitude aircraft to tackle mobile phone blackspots

15 September 2026

A fleet of autonomous aircraft, flying high above the Earth, could be used to deliver mobile coverage to remote areas of the UK, as part of a new project that has received funding.

News

SAINTS shortlisted for Times Higher Education EDI Award 2026

10 September 2026

The UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe Artificial Intelligence Systems (SAINTS), part of the Institute for Safe Autonomy, has been shortlisted at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards.

News

ISA funds new research to make robotics and connected autonomous systems safer

1 September 2026

From developing drones that assist emergency teams with disaster relief to creating a system that lets autonomous ships communicate safely with other vessels, four cross-cutting research projects have been awarded seed funding from the Institute for Safe Autonomy this year.

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).

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. 


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