Risk-Aware Decision-Making under Uncertainty for Autonomous Navigation

Autonomous ships must make navigation decisions in complex environments where the behaviour of other vessels, future traffic developments and associated risks are uncertain. Avoiding collision alone is not sufficient: decisions must also consider navigational rules, operational constraints, safety margins and the consequences of uncertainty.

This project will investigate risk-aware decision-making for safe autonomous navigation. The research will explore how dynamic navigational risk can be incorporated explicitly into autonomous decision processes, enabling navigation actions to respond to both the estimated level of risk and confidence in that assessment.

The project will investigate decision-making during vessel encounters, including crossing, head-on and overtaking situations. Potential actions may include maintaining course and speed, altering course, reducing speed or increasing separation. The research will examine how these decisions can balance navigational safety, COLREGs compliance and operational efficiency, particularly when the intentions or future trajectories of surrounding vessels remain uncertain.

The project will also consider situations in which continued autonomous operation may no longer be appropriate. Methods will be investigated for linking changing risk conditions to operational responses such as increased safety margins, function degradation, remote supervision, mode switching or fallback. Potential approaches include:

• probabilistic decision-making
• multi-objective optimisation
• risk-constrained planning
• model predictive methods
• machine learning

Methods will be evaluated using representative maritime traffic scenarios and simulation environments.

The project will advance autonomous navigation from collision avoidance towards risk-informed decision-making, contributing to safer and more explainable autonomous ship operations under complex and uncertain conditions.

Entry requirements

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent.

Fees and funding

We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.

Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.

Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.

Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

How to apply

Apply now

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD Engineering & the Environment (7175)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)

Contact us

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

For questions about applying, doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk.

Project leader

For an initial conversation, Huanhuan.Li@soton.ac.uk.

The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.