Returning guest Marco Pavone is an expert in autonomous robotic systems, such as self-driving cars and autonomous space robots. He says that there have been major advances since his last appearance on the show seven years ago, mostly driven by leaps in artificial intelligence. He tells host Russ Altman all about the challenges and progress of autonomy on Earth and in space in this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to [email protected].

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile:  Marco Pavone
• Center for AEroSpace Autonomy Research (CAESAR)

Connect With Us:

• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
• Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon
• Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Marco Pavone, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford.

(00:02:37) Autonomous Systems in Everyday Life

Advancements in the real-world applications of autonomous systems.

(00:03:51) Evolution of Self-Driving Technologies

The shift from fully autonomous cars to advanced driver assistance systems.

(00:06:36) Public Perception of Autonomous Vehicles

How people react to and accept autonomous vehicles in everyday life.

(00:07:49) AI’s and Autonomous Driving

The impact of AI advancements on autonomous driving performance.

(00:09:52) Simulating Edge Cases for Safety

Using AI to simulate rare driving events to improve safety and training.

(00:12:04) Autonomous Vehicle Communication

Communication challenges between autonomous vehicles and infrastructure.

(00:15:24) Risk-Averse Planning in Autonomous Systems

How risk-averse planning ensures safety in autonomous vehicles.

(00:18:43) Autonomous Systems in Space

The role of autonomous robots in space exploration and lunar missions.

(00:22:47) Space Debris and Collision Avoidance

The challenges of space debris and collision avoidance with autonomous systems.

(00:24:39) Distributed Autonomous Systems for Space

Using distributed autonomous systems in space missions for better coordination.

(00:28:40) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook