Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Breaching the boundaries of safety and intelligence in autonomous systems with risk-based rationality

Project description

A human-like perception system for marine applications

Developing autonomous marine systems that can thoroughly assess and model risks would enable them to behave more intelligently, interact safely in unstructured environments and foster public trust. Currently, human-like risk perception is missing in decision-making and control in such systems. The ERC-funded BREACH project will tackle this challenge by focusing on risk-based autonomy and shared control with human supervisors. The goal is to create powerful risk modelling and control solutions, closely connected to risk-based decision support for human supervisors. Project outcomes should enable safer, advanced transport, ocean and land monitoring and careful instrument inspections. Researchers also aim to establish a framework combining quantitative risk models with data-driven and simulation approaches.

Objective

Autonomous systems able to comprehensively assess and model risks would be a scientific breakthrough leading to highly intelligent system behaviors, safe interactions in unstructured environments, and public trust. Currently, risk perception is an important part of human cognition not adequately implemented in the situation awareness, control and decision-making of autonomous systems. Therefore, this project addresses fundamental research challenges related to risk-based autonomy and safe and efficient shared control with human supervisors. The aim is to develop powerful risk modelling and built-in risk control solutions, closely connected to risk-based decision support for human supervisors in-the-loop. The outcomes of the project will allow for new, safe, and advanced types of transport, mapping and monitoring of oceans and land, and inspections of structures difficult to access. Although there are a few preliminary concepts coupling risk models with control algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), a fundamental framework providing risk-based control and decision support – for both the autonomous system and human supervisors – does not exist. In BREACH, I will establish such a framework constituted by quantitative risk models merged with data-driven approaches, simulation and model-based approaches, integrating hardware, software, human, and environmental risk elements. The complexity of the framework will gradually evolve in two parallel tracks along with demonstrations for mission planning and execution for autonomous marine “organizations”. The focus on marine systems is due to the demanding challenges in that domain, and my knowledge and experience as a researcher in the Centre of Excellence on Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems (NTNU AMOS). For several years, I have contributed to fundamental research related to risk management of autonomous marine systems, which has convinced me that this project will be a major leap forward with great impact.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 499 773,00
Address
HOGSKOLERINGEN 1
7491 Trondheim
Norway

See on map

Region
Norge Trøndelag Trøndelag
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 499 773,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0