As robotic systems become more capable, connected, mobile, and autonomous, the question facing Canada’s robotics community is no longer simply, “Can the robot perform the task?” We must also ask: Can it be deployed safely, responsibly, and with confidence?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning will form an important part of the conversation, particularly where they allow robots to perceive changing environments, make decisions, or adapt their behaviour. However, the session will address these technologies within the broader context of robotics safety, system integration, risk assessment, validation, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Many existing robot-safety frameworks were developed around systems whose actions could be clearly programmed, bounded, tested, and repeated. As robotic behaviour becomes more dynamic, the industry must consider how established safety practices should evolve; and where additional guidance may be required.

This session is for anyone involved in designing, building, integrating, approving, insuring, purchasing, or operating robotic systems—and for those who believe Canada can play a leadership role in establishing the trust, safety, and accountability needed for robotics adoption.

Canada’s robotics ecosystem cannot scale on technical capability alone—it must also build the confidence to deploy. Going beyond simply identifying challenges, this session aims to generate practical, actionable input that helps Canada move safely from robotics demonstrations and pilot projects toward dependable, scalable deployment. 

Participants will examine questions such as:

Technical Risk Assessment, Validation & Gaps

• How should robotics risk assessments account for systems that perceive, learn, adapt, or operate with greater autonomy?
• What evidence, testing, validation, and documentation are required to demonstrate that an advanced robotic system is safe?
• Where do current standards provide sufficient guidance, and where are the gaps?

Stakeholder Responsibility, Compliance & Implementation

• How should responsibility be shared among robot manufacturers, technology providers, integrators, professional engineers, end users, and other parties involved in a deployment?
• How do Canadian regulations, machinery-safety requirements, standards, insurance considerations, and approval processes affect what can realistically be deployed?

Participants will contribute to:

• The development of a robotics safety gap map
• A practical safety-case framework, and
• A shortlist of standards or regulatory priorities that Canada’s robotics community could advance.