Key terms and definitions related to autonomous systems across maritime, air, and land domains.
A
- Autonomous System A system that can perform tasks without human intervention, using sensors, software, and actuators to perceive its environment and make decisions.
- AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority – the national maritime safety regulator responsible for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and maritime and aviation search and rescue.
- Assurance The process of providing confidence that a system will perform as intended and meet its safety requirements. Accreditation Formal recognition that an organization or system meets specified standards and is competent to perform particular activities.
B
- BVLOS Beyond Visual Line of Sight – operations where the remote pilot cannot maintain direct visual contact with the unmanned aircraft.
C
- CASA Civil Aviation Safety Authority – Australia’s national aviation safety regulator responsible for the safety regulation of civil air operations in Australia.
- COLREGs International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea – the “rules of the road” for vessels to prevent collisions at sea.
- Command and Control (C2) – The exercise of authority and direction by a designated commander over assigned forces to accomplish a mission.
D
- DAA Detect and Avoid – the capability to see, sense, or detect conflicting traffic and take appropriate action.
- DTE Distributed Test Environment – a system for conducting tests across multiple locations.
H
- Human-Machine Teaming The collaboration between humans and autonomous systems to achieve objectives that neither could accomplish alone.
M
- MASS Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships – ships that can operate independently without human intervention.
- MILTECS Military Integrated Logistics Test and Evaluation Combat Systems – a facility for testing autonomous ground and aerial systems.
R
- RAS Robotic and Autonomous Systems – systems that can perform tasks with varying degrees of autonomy.
- Remote Operation – The control of a system from a distance, where a human operator maintains control but is not physically present on the platform.
- RPAS Remotely Piloted Aircraft System – an aircraft that is operated by a licensed remote pilot from a control station not on board the aircraft.
S
- SORA Specific Operations Risk Assessment – a methodology for assessing the risk of UAS operations developed by JARUS. Survey The inspection of a vessel by a recognized surveyor to verify compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
T
- TAS Trusted Autonomous Systems – a Defence Cooperative Research Centre focused on building Australia’s autonomous systems capabilities.
- Test Range – A designated area where autonomous systems can be tested and evaluated in controlled conditions.
U
- UAS Unmanned Aircraft System – an aircraft that is intended to operate with no pilot on board, including all associated elements.
- UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicle – a vehicle that operates on the ground without a human operator on board.
- USV Unmanned Surface Vessel – a vessel that operates on the water surface without a crew on board.
- UUV Unmanned Underwater Vehicle – a vehicle that operates underwater without a human operator on board.