Lead: Dr Shane Windsor
Creating specifications for autonomous systems which can change in function over time poses significant challenges. We normally assume that the characteristics of a system do not change significantly after it has been made. With adaptive autonomous systems we need ways to specify functional requirements which allow for some properties of the system to change while still defining what is required to ensure the system functions in a desirable way. Related to this, suitable methods for monitoring the performance of the system are also needed.
In this part of the Node we are developing methods for specifying and monitoring adaptive autonomous systems. We are testing these methods by applying them to the soft robots, swarm robots and UAVs that are being developed in the other parts of the Node.
We are also exploring the ethical, regulatory and verification implications of the different specification and monitoring methods that we are developing with experts in these areas.