David Powell

About

David Powell is a prominent researcher specializing in dependable and safe human-robot interaction (pHRI), with particular expertise in risk analysis, safety monitoring, and fault tolerance for autonomous robotic systems. His work addresses one of robotics' most pressing challenges: ensuring that robots operating in everyday human environments remain reliably safe and trustworthy. Powell's most influential contribution, a 2006 survey on safe and dependable physical human-robot interaction (234 citations), helped define the foundational challenges of introducing robots into anthropic domains, shaping subsequent research directions across the field. Building on this, he developed innovative model-based risk assessment methodologies — notably UML-based scenario analysis and deviation-driven risk identification — providing practical tools for engineers designing safety-critical robotic systems. His work on fault-tolerant planning, safety trigger conditions, and online safety monitoring further demonstrates a comprehensive approach to robustness throughout a robot's operational lifecycle. Powell has also applied his frameworks to real-world medical robotics, including rehabilitation systems like the MIRAS walking assistance robot, confronting the difficult intersection of regulatory standards and cutting-edge autonomous systems. His long-standing contributions through institutions such as LAAS-CNRS, including the SESAME fault injection tool, reflect a career dedicated to bridging theoretical dependability research with tangible engineering practice — making his work essential reading for anyone working on safety-critical autonomous systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Safe and dependable physical human-robot interaction in anthropic domains: State of the art and challenges

   234 citations · 2006
2. 2
   Experience with Model-Based User-Centered Risk Assessment for Service Robots

   34 citations · 2010
3. 3
   A UML-based method for risk analysis of human-robot interactions

   30 citations · 2010
4. 4
   Fault Tolerant Planning for Critical Robots

   20 citations · 2007
5. 5
   Model-based safety analysis of human-robot interactions: The MIRAS walking assistance robot

   17 citations · 2013
6. 6
   Safety Trigger Conditions for Critical Autonomous Systems

   14 citations · 2012
7. 7
   Human-robot interactions: model-based risk analysis and safety case construction

   14 citations · 2012
8. 8
   The SESAME Experience: from Assembly Languages to Declarative Models

   14 citations · 2006
9. 9
   Online Safety Monitoring Using Safety Modes

   12 citations · 2008
10. 10
    Applying Existing Standards to a Medical Rehabilitation Robot: Limits and Challenges

    11 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links