I-Corps Award: Safe and Secure Solutions for Connected Cyber-Physical Systems

Agile Safe Autonomous Systems (ASAS) was awarded to develop the leadership skills of the team using the guidance and support throughout the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps program hosted by NE I-Corps .. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The mentorship and experience have been instrumental in shaping our team’s entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship skills, and our team is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with someone as experienced and passionate to help as you.


During the seven-week program, our team, Agile Safe Autonomy had the privilege of developing a cutting-edge business model for a technology, which is focused on security and safety for future connected autonomous systems. Through your support and encouragement, we were able to interview over 200 experts in the field of robotic, autonomous vehicles and automotive which has been instrumental in shaping our approach to emerging technologies.

The insights, dedication, and commitment to our team have been truly exceptional. The spectacular mentorship has challenged us to think beyond our current limitations and helped us to develop a clearer vision for our future goals. Our team is incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the time mentors invested in us during this program, and we look forward to continuing to the next chapter.

 Safe and Secure Solutions for Connected Cyber-Physical Systems

The broader impact and commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of an innovative technology designed to improve the safety and security of autonomous vehicles and robots, automation systems, and smart devices. It is built on the development of autonomous motion planning and control algorithms inspired by human drivers to perform aggressive vehicle maneuvers for high-agility, unstable fast vehicle motions. The platform can analyze combined safety and security risk surfaces for these connected cyber-physical systems, providing an enabling tool to determine the maximum operational domain and functional limits of autonomous or intelligent systems. The technology development also allows for simulation testbeds for these systems and devices to test their interconnection security, mimicking real-world scenarios.

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a platform which has direct applications in the connected cyber-physical systems market. Autonomous vehicles, robotics, and smart devices are widely used in various industries, and the demand for safety and security certifications for these systems is increasing rapidly. This technology provides an innovative tool to analyze the combined safety and security risk surfaces for these systems, making it possible to design human-inspired active safety features for next-generation “accident-free” vehicles or robots. The technology can also extend to various other fields that require safety and security risk assessments. This project has the potential to enrich STEM education in emerging technologies such as robotics, machine learning, and smart devices, and to support the national welfare and prosperity by advancing the safety and security of autonomous systems.