John McDermid

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About

John McDermid is a leading authority on the safety, ethics, and engineering of complex, software-intensive systems, with a particular focus on autonomous vehicles and robotics. His work bridges the critical gap between technical reliability and societal responsibility. He is best known for his foundational contributions to safety-critical systems engineering, including pioneering research on hazard analysis and system safety architectures for autonomous cyber-physical systems. His 2020 perspective on intelligent and connected autonomous vehicles (10 citations) frames the core challenges of integrating AI with physical systems. Equally impactful is his landmark 2019 report on ethical issues for robotics and autonomous systems (10 citations), which has become a key reference for policymakers and engineers navigating moral dilemmas in automation. As a Professor of Software Engineering at the University of York and former Director of the UK’s Assuring Autonomy International Programme, McDermid’s work has shaped national and international standards for autonomous system assurance. His research continues to influence how we design, verify, and ethically govern the next generation of intelligent machines.