Automation Criterion for Small Modular Reactors

As it happened with basic software algorithms in 80s, Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered algorithms are slowly but surely becoming integral part of control systems in safety critical industries, including the risk averse nuclear field. The level of control will surely vary across different domains, and given the conservatism of the nuclear industry, we should not expect in a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) fully autonomous control systems soon. However, the introduction of higher levels of automation is likely, where AI-based automation is given more responsibility, with the human still being able to take control when necessary. We argue that the essential criterion for high level automation is the assurance that the control transition between AI and human (in either direction) is achieved with acceptable risk. The paper attempts to explain what this risk is and how to make it acceptable in the nuclear settings, and beyond.

Keywords: AI, Risk, nuclear, Autonomous control, Decision-making, Safety critical functions, Human, Small modular reactors.