UKRI AI CDT in Dependable and Deployable AI for Robotics (CDT-D2AIR)

Jacob Mitchell

Project
Bridging Innovation and Adoption in Autonomous Inspection and Maintenance Robotics

Summary
Jacob’s research focuses on the barriers to adoption of autonomous robotic systems in industrial contexts, with a particular emphasis on inspection and maintenance within the built environment. His work explores the use of robotics for vertical masonry structures in critical infrastructure settings. A central theme of this research is understanding the gap between technological innovation and real-world adoption. Jacob examines the technical, regulatory, and socio-technical factors that contribute to this gap, and investigates how robotic system design can help overcome these challenges. His work considers the complexities of deploying systems that must operate within domain-specific constraints while interfacing with human stakeholders and regulatory frameworks. Key areas of focus include human-in-the-loop autonomy, model performance and robustness, and methods for verification and validation.