University researchers are examining new safety certifications for autonomous systems, such as self-driving cars and delivery robots, a Feb. 17 news release announced.
Autonomous systems, like self-driving cars, currently follow “static” safety certifications that function like a final exam, wrote Ufuk Topcu, director of the Autonomous Systems Group, in an email response. He said these systems are tested against a “fixed checklist” of challenges and are approved if they pass. According to Topcu, autonomous robots are designed to operate in unpredictable environments, and their safety certifications should test versatility instead.
Cockrell School of Engineering researchers are examining these static safety systems to make them more adaptable.