Autonomous Systems:

Opportunities and Challenges for the UK

Dr Ruth L Mallors-Ray

Director of AAD KTN, Space SIG, Defence SIG

Monday 3rd February 2014

Aerospace& Defence

Overview

Autonomous Systems – How important is the definition

Market Potential – Maturity of different markets

A need for a UK Strategy

Are we coalescing towards one?

Who are we?

Arm’s Length AgencyChair and Governing BoardOwn ring fenced budget

Arm’s Length ProgrammesChair and Steering BoardOwn ring fenced budget

Aerospace, Aviation and Defence KTN

Aerospace Growth Partnership – Active member of the Technology Working Group

UK Aerospace Technology Strategy – custodianship and facilitation

Autonomous Systems – integration of various networks, roadmaps, etc

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul – composite repair innovation requirements

Aviation Security – watching brief

Space SIG

Dissemination

National Space Technology Strategy

Defence SIG

Accelerate interactions across

research communities

Improve the flow of knowledge and

understanding between civil and

defence

Coordination of 250 companies through roadmapping to collate the Aerospace

Technology Strategy

Scoped £55m worth of Aerospace Led CR&D Calls for TSB in last 2 years

Reach 4000+ people each week

Objective voice of aerospace technology requirements

UK’s largest on line network for Space

Secured £10m for Space Strategy

Member of Sat Apps Catapult Advisory

Board

“connector” of technology needs

between Dstl and KTN themes

Facilitator of 5 joint calls with TSB

and Dstl investments

Our journey in Autonomous Systems

KTN established in 2007

Autonomous Systems on roadmaps – ASTRAEA

2009/2010 established the Autonomous Systems National Technical

Committee, ~ 55 organisations

Roadmap expands – though still air centric

Three Knowledge Transfer and Networking events – academia, cross

sectoral, large and small organisations – 300 participants

Commissioned Study: Autonomous Systems – Opportunities and

Challenges for the UK

Engaged in the Robotics and Autonomous Systems SIG

Publication of Autonomous Systems Market Refresh 2014

Autonomous Systems: Opportunities and Challenges for the UK

Steered by the AAD KTN

Delivered in partnership with Callen Lenz and North West Aerospace

Alliance

NOT Defence

Everything and anything but Defence

Autonomous Systems – How important is the definition?

It is can mean too many things to too many people - UAVs, Drones, Rovers,

It can be misunderstood – a world of faceless robots roaming the planet? Cars up and down motorways filled with

people eating four course meals?

Is it the machine or the stuff in side the machine that is autonomous?

Is it autonomous or intelligent?

Is it autonomous or automatic?

Is it the thing or what it does that is important?

It is needed to take your audience with you, to engage those customers you are all seeking, they need to know what it

is.

fairly

But, can you?

The study was bound in two way

A sensing or monitoring system which may include a vehicle or vehicles

(submarine, water surface, land, air, space) which is operated autonomously

(or capable of being operated autonomously)

A broader autonomous and intelligent system, or system of systems. This

may include robotics or autonomous vehicles, where data acquired by a

sensing or monitoring capability is utilised as part of the overall process.

Vehicle-y thing

Its application

Areas of clarity are required ….

“Autonomous and Intelligent Systems” could be sufficient

A taxonomy for the “aspects” of technology to gain consistency

Broad taxonomy of applications

There are some floating about …

Autonomous Systems NTC

ASTRAEA Technology Breakdown

European Commission documentation on Robots, Service Robotics

……

A suggestion:

Define it

Stick to it

Move on

Oceans are more likely to boil before you have consensus

Market Potential – Maturity of different markets

Market Areas Maturity

AgricultureFood productionAgriculture ServicesAgriculture supply industry

Unmanned Remote Sensing, no AS

HealthAssisted livingMedical DevicesStratified Medicine

Experience in JapanUK Trials

Blue LightFire and RescuePoliceCoast guard

Unmanned remote observation trials, no AS

EnergyNuclearOffshore windPower Distribution

Commercial unmanned Remote Sensing, not AS

EnvironmentWaterCarbon CaptureNatural Hazards

Commercial unmanned Remote Sensing, not AS

TransportHighwaysRailAir Marine

Commercial unmanned Remote Sensing, not AS

Market Potential – Estimated Values

Market Areas Values - BILLIONS

AgricultureFood productionAgriculture ServicesAgriculture supply industry

-0.61.5

HealthAssisted livingMedical DevicesStratified Medicine

32--

Blue LightFire and RescuePoliceCoast guard

-10-

Energy Low Carbon 150

EnvironmentWaterCarbon CaptureNatural Hazards

11--

Transport

AutomotiveAirRailMarine

10221117

EstimatedAnnual Market Value

£265bn

Robotics and Autonomous Systems SIG – creating focus

Bristol Robotics Laboratory

Oxford University Developments

ASTRAEA

OC Robotics

Shadow robot

Heriot Watt University

…..

……….

…………………..

AAD KTN

ESP KTN

AISP

BARA

……

…………

…………………….

UK focus in the areas will

Target large and tappable markets nationally and internationally

Inspire and innovate solutions for these markets

Pull out of universities early research into developments in industry

Contribute to the UK economy in the short, medium and long term