The
Future Of Robotics
Safety

In this episode of The Future Of, Nathan Bivans, Chief Technology Officer at Fort Robotics, joins Jeff Dance to dive into the future of robotic safety, including ethical concerns, generative AI’s impact on robotics, and how to ensure that robotics safety regulations accommodate rapid technological advancements without compromising human safety and ethics.

Integrating Safety and Security

In the realm of modern robotics, Nathan emphasizes that safety and security are inseparable, especially when robotics extend beyond the confines of controlled environments like factories or warehouses. Industries such as agriculture, construction, and transportation pose unique challenges as they involve largely uncontrolled applications and often operate on public networks, making access control more difficult.

He also highlights the significance of integrating safety and security, emphasizing that they go hand in hand. It is impossible to achieve one without considering the other. In certain cases, a security breach may require a response that aligns with traditional safety protocols. For instance, if a critical intrusion is detected in a robot, it may need to be safely shut down to mitigate any potential harm.

From a developmental standpoint, Nathan discusses the familiar V-Model, which involves starting with requirements, progressing through design and development, and concluding with validation and verification. To incorporate security into this process, he proposes an additional layer: commencing with a threat model instead of a hazard analysis and subsequently addressing requirements, architecture, and design. By intertwining safety and security in this manner, you can establish a unified approach, ensuring the trustworthiness of system behavior, with a particular focus on robots.

Balancing Speed and Safety

Nathan emphasizes that the primary concerns and challenges in ensuring robot safety arise from the fact that individuals are driven to develop robots not necessarily due to a passion for safety and security but rather to address specific problems, which often leads to overlooking safety considerations. Many customers purchase wireless operations devices as a temporary solution to control machines while still working on software and sensor development. However, when they believe they are ready to deploy the robot, they mistakenly assume that the software has been adequately validated and can be trusted.

The challenge lies in enabling customers who aspire to rapidly build robots to move at their desired pace, particularly if they are venture capital-funded and under pressure to satisfy investors. Simultaneously, it is crucial to ensure the safety of the application. Simply relying on testing alone cannot solve this problem, so it becomes essential to incorporate safety measures into the design. This also applies to security measures, as continuous testing alone cannot provide complete assurance. Unfortunately, many customers overlook safety considerations initially, only to face difficult questions from their clients when attempting to secure significant sales. This oversight often results in significant delays or even the loss of deals.

Balancing Technological Advancements and Safety

To effectively address the challenge of accommodating rapid technological advancements in robotics while maintaining human safety and ethical considerations, several key steps can be taken. First and foremost, it is crucial to recognize the importance of balancing the need for speed and innovation with the necessity for safety. Successful companies and individuals in this field understand the value of investing some time upfront to conduct a hazard analysis. This analysis doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming but allows for a comprehensive understanding of the safety challenges specific to the application and operating environment. By gaining insight into the scope of these challenges, it becomes possible to identify high-priority issues that require immediate attention and are often relatively straightforward to solve. Additionally, lower-priority concerns can be addressed incrementally as the technology progresses.

Performing a hazard analysis at the early stages not only provides a clearer understanding of the problem’s scale but also helps in proactively incorporating safety measures that might initially seem time-consuming or daunting. By addressing these aspects early on, organizations can lay a solid foundation for future improvements while minimizing potential risks.

Generative AI’s Impact on Robotics

The rapid advancement of generative AI has significant implications for robotics. It goes beyond simply having libraries of visual images or text-based models; it involves visual models that enhance robots’ ability to perceive and identify objects more accurately. Additionally, there are libraries of control movements that can be combined with visual models, enabling robots to perform tasks with improved precision. This integration of generative AI into robotics is expected to drive further progress in the field.

However, with this advancement comes an increased emphasis on safety. It is crucial to strike a balance between leveraging the potential of AI technology and ensuring the well-being of humans. While prioritizing safety is crucial, it is equally significant not to suppress technological innovation. It is undeniable that AI is the future of robotics in many aspects. Even incorporating AI and machine learning for simulation work can expedite the testing process, allowing for comprehensive evaluations of non-AI automation software.

Fostering Transparency and Trust in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry

As we move towards a future where robots and autonomous vehicles become more commonplace, accidents will inevitably occur due to statistical probabilities. To establish trust, companies must adopt a policy of transparency regarding accident information. By openly sharing the facts, companies can show that they take responsibility for their mistakes and demonstrate their credibility when it comes to attributing fault to external factors. This transparency will be critical in building public trust, as people will appreciate a company that admits its faults while providing evidence when the fault lies elsewhere.

However, this culture of openness and learning can only thrive if companies have confidence in the quality of their autonomous solutions. They need to have conducted detailed safety and security measures, ensuring the design work has been executed with the highest level of rigor. With such confidence in their systems, companies will be more willing to release accident information, assuring the public that they have followed all necessary precautions and that accidents can still occur despite their best efforts.

Navigating Potential Risks in the Age of Robotics and IoT

When discussing the potential dangers associated with robotics and IoT devices, concerns about worst-case scenarios often arise. Many individuals quickly jump to the idea of a future with numerous robots connected in a network, leading to fears related to cybersecurity, which is increasingly recognized as a prominent form of warfare today.

While Nathan believes we should not fear robotics, he emphasizes the importance of exercising caution. Traditional safety concerns are valid but typically present a relatively minor threat when considering the scale of risks involved.