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Dr. Suzy Young: What Assured Autonomy Means to Me
As the new AUVSI Board Chair, I am extremely excited about our XPONENTIAL 2021 theme of Assured Autonomy. It is catchy, but more importantly, it provokes the question: Exactly what does that mean to me?
What Assured Autonomy Means to Me
My entrance into the world of robotics happened many years ago when the Army asked its research and development laboratories collectively for possible opportunities where robots could offer solutions for major battlefield deficiencies.
My role at the time with the Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center was to work with the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA to provide alternatives to the soldier when firing a shoulder launched, short range weapon into a tank, with increased survival rates.
An answer with the most potential was the integration and control of a mobile robot armed with the same weapon but offering increased range from the soldier to the target. Therein began my education of autonomy and any assurance associated with the new system concept.
The Evolution of Autonomy
At the time, autonomy was not much of an option (more remote control and teleoperation), and the idea that this robot could possibly be misguided, mis-fired, intercepted by stray signals, aimed in the wrong direction or detonated at the wrong time was high on the list of safety and security in the test plan and on the range.
Was it because it was called a robot? Whatever the reason, testing took 2-3 times longer than most efforts, calling for lock down of the turret until in place, a disengaged firing mechanism, total shutdown of the entire system for aiming, manual hard-wired firing and extended down time before re-entering the test range.
This added complexity required patience, innovation and determination to ensure operations were reliable and safe.
Trust
Our theme this year brings together experts to discuss how we work together toward the outcomes of autonomous innovation, and the assurance of safe and seamless integration of our systems into everyday life, ultimately offering efficient and progressive advantages across numerous applications.
Assurance is somewhat synonymous with trustworthiness and in my case, there was no trust whatsoever. Trust for humans normally means a two-way street, however now trust is between human and machine. Trust must mean a reliance on the ability of the system to do its job without error.
As the need for autonomy has expanded, we are looking to its optimization that includes the symbiosis of safety, intelligence, efficiency, integration, human interface, AI, big data, machine learning, deep learning and more.
How this will happen will require acceptance over time by humans to build upon proven performance by the system, and consistency and reliability that instills confidence in its outcomes.
Our jobs as engineers, scientists and technologists is to expedite the transition to autonomy systematically at both the tactical and strategic level with attention to detail, accuracy and consistency always assuring the desired results.
Join us at XPO 2021
We’ll be digging into these questions of trust, acceptance, and technology transition during this year’s XPONENTIAL, scheduled for August 16-19 in Atlanta, GA.
A few standout sessions include “Better, Safer, Stronger: Considerations for Improved System Safety and Performance,” “Social Acceptance Through the Lens of Product Design,” and “Improving Integration Through State Advocacy Efforts.”
I invite you to join me and the entire unmanned systems industry at this exciting event so we can find answers to these questions together.
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