The rapid rise of autonomous systems (AS) across air, land, and maritime domains promises to revolutionize both defense and civilian applications. But with this progress comes the challenge of understanding and managing these increasingly complex technologies. A key solution lies in developing a common and recognized autonomous systems taxonomy, e.g., one that focuses on "autonomy as a function.".

By developing and adopting a common taxonomy that incorporates "autonomy as a function," benefits everyone – from defense planners to industry developers, regulators, and ultimately, the end-users who rely on these transformative technologies. A clear understanding of the level of autonomy for various functionalities within an AS is crucial for responsible development, safe operation, and maximizing the potential of this revolutionary technology.

taxonomy

Why a Common Language Matters

Think of a taxonomy as a shared vocabulary for everyone involved with AS: from defense and industry professionals to regulators and end-users. A well-defined taxonomy that incorporates "autonomy as a function" offers several key benefits:

Clear Communication: Everyone speaks the same language. This fosters better collaboration, avoids misunderstandings, and smooths the development, deployment, and operation of AS, especially when considering the varying degrees of autonomy within a system.

Enhanced Safety and Security: By categorizing AS based on capabilities, limitations, operational environments, and the level of autonomy as a function (e.g., fully autonomous for specific tasks, supervised for others), a taxonomy allows for targeted safety assessments, mitigation strategies, and clear lines of responsibility.

Streamlined Development: Imagine a future where AS seamlessly communicate with civilian traffic management systems, with varying levels of autonomy depending on the situation. A common taxonomy that considers "autonomy as a function" can make it happen.

Efficient Regulation: Regulators can leverage the taxonomy to create clear and effective regulations for different classes of AS, ensuring responsible development and operation, with specific attention to the level of autonomy for different functions.

Benefits Across Sectors

Defense: Militaries can categorize AS based on mission types, autonomy levels for specific tasks (supervised, collaborative, fully autonomous), and environmental factors. This optimizes resource allocation, training strategies, and tactics for effective AS deployment, considering the appropriate level of autonomy required for each mission phase.

Industry (Civil & Military): A common taxonomy that considers "autonomy as a function" fosters collaboration between civil and military sectors. It promotes commercially viable AS solutions with potential military applications (dual-use technology) and simplifies compliance with regulations for both domains, ensuring a clear understanding of the level of autonomy for various functionalities.

End-Users & Operators: A clear taxonomy empowers users with a better understanding of the AS they interact with, including the level of autonomy for different functions. This builds trust, improves decision-making during operations, and minimizes the risk of accidents by establishing clear expectations of the system's capabilities.