The Programmable & Autonomous Systems Unit seeks to research, develop and commercialise techniques, tools and algorithms that will ensure that citizens can benefit from the digital evolution. We advocate that future digital platforms, in particular transport and energy, must exhibit a set of fundamental characteristics if they are to cope with rapidly changing requirements in such a complex environment.
Programmable – a system, service or platform whose logic is separated from its operation. By building programmable systems, we ensure that they are future proofed and flexible so that their features and functionalities can evolve as requirements evolve.
Autonomous – a system, service or platform is autonomous if it can perform its activities in a fashion that requires minimal human supervision in the face of complex and changing environmental conditions.
By directing our research into these two highly complementary topics, we can ensure that society can take full advantage of the new digitally connected world.