The UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Programme is the UK’s flagship multi-disciplinary research programme that looks to address the challenge of developing best practices for the design, operation, and governance of trusted and trustworthy autonomous systems for the benefit of society. One of its goals is to establish international collaborations that will ensure that the research it funds in the UK is informed by and complements research carried out in other parts of the world on trustworthy autonomous systems.
As a first step, the TAS Hub aims to organise an in-person 4-day sandpit in collaboration with US institutions to co-create 12 month research projects with a view to establishing new relationships and address the challenges of building, operating, and regulating autonomous systems across different countries and cultures.
This call is only open to post-doctoral research fellows and early career assistant professors, from the TAS Hub in the UK, and John Hopkins University and the University of Texas at Austin in the US.
The sandpit will address key concerns around Trustworthy Human-Machine/Autonomous System Teaming such as those given below, in relation to specific operational contexts:
• Multiple Humans-Multiple Machines: multiple human operators and analysts and teams on the ground working with robots (air, ground, under-water /surface, AI-based planning systems) in disaster response or agri-robotics.
• Single Human-Single Machine: human, robot, and AI-based system for robotic surgery or engine repair.
The scenarios will consider specific trust issues for example transparency of autonomous decision-making, delegation of control, resilience, and explainability.
Achieving the sandpit aims will require participants from an appropriate mix of diverse backgrounds and relevant disciplines. Researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are therefore encouraged to apply to attend this sandpit.
For more information on what a typical sandpit involves find out here.
The TAS Hub will look to fund projects worth between £50k/$65k to £200k/$260 at 80% FEC. The number of projects funded will depend on the quality of the projects proposed and the funds available at the time from TAS Hub and other sources.
Applying to participate in the sandpit will be done by completing an expression of interest. Your answers to the expression of interest questions will be used to assess your application and convince a panel that you have the suitable skills and attitude to participate in this sandpit.
• Call announced: August 2022
• Expression of Interest deadline: 21 September 2022
• Sandpit in the US: 12 – 16 December 2022
• Awards announced: 16 December 2022
• Projects start: 1 March 2023