The Rise of Autonomous Systems: Advances, Applications, and Opportunities

Autonomous system revolution has begun. As they make the transition away from stories of science fiction, autonomous systems have become a practical reality and a game changer. They are currently in use, performing different tasks in diverse areas offering several benefits – and are here to stay. Advances in technologies, such as IoT, drones, robotics, AI, machine learning and nano, collectively will further extend the capabilities of autonomous systems. As a result, many different sectors will be transformed in unimaginable ways. However, despite the advances, confusion, ambiguity, hype, concerns, and fears surround autonomous systems. So, we need a clear holistic understanding of autonomous systems and their potentials and limitations. And, we have to satisfactorily address the concerns and limitations they present. The domain of autonomous systems is fertile, with substantial opportunity for researchers, developers, and industry, and now is the time to act. 

This talk will cover several aspects of autonomous systems and discuss how we can harness them. Specifically, it will examine:

• What an autonomous system is, and why it matters 

• Principles and architecture of an autonomous system 

• Levels of autonomy 

• Advances and supporting developments 

• Current and potential future applications of autonomous systems 

• Concerns on autonomous systems such as trust and ethics, and how we can address them 

• Impact of autonomous systems 

• Business and research opportunities 

• The future of autonomous systems