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This paper addresses the critical barrier preventing AI deployment in railway safety-critical systems by proposing a framework centered on robustness, Operational Design Domain (ODD) definition, and explainability. By aligning these technical requirements with existing standards like ISO 24029 and DIN DKE SPEC 99004, the research outlines a clear path for regulators and operators to adopt trustworthy AI in mission-critical infrastructure.
Building Trust in Artificial Intelligence: A Necessity for Railway Applications
arXiv:2609.18278v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently only applied to non-safety critical applications due to the strict standards and regulations for railway industries. We propose to review the three main fields necessary to increase trust in data science and AI algorithms and reach compliance: robustness, Operational Design Domain (ODD), and explainability. Robustness is the ability of an AI system to maintain its level of performance under any circumstances (ISO24029). ODDs allow the explicit definition of operating conditions under which a system is intended to operate, according to the recently published DIN DKE SPEC 99004. Explainability is the property of an AI system to express important factors influencing the AI system results in a way that humans can understand. Those 3 domains of research are already well investigated by nonrailway actors, with algorithms and methods ready to use for railway applications. A system view is necessary to ensure all trustworthy requirements interact continuously in a safe MLOps environment thereby fostering acceptance from regulators, operators and the public. Beyond safeguarding safety-critical applications, we aim to show that fostering deep trust in AI, as now required by regulatory frameworks worldwide, will unlock its full potential and transform the pace of adoption across mission-critical domains.
Abstract:Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently only applied to non-safety critical applications due to the strict standards and regulations for railway industries. We propose to review the three main fields necessary to increase trust in data science and AI algorithms and reach compliance: robustness, Operational Design Domain (ODD), and explainability. Robustness is the ability of an AI system to maintain its level of performance under any circumstances (ISO24029). ODDs allow the explicit definition of operating conditions under which a system is intended to operate, according to the recently published DIN DKE SPEC 99004. Explainability is the property of an AI system to express important factors influencing the AI system results in a way that humans can understand. Those 3 domains of research are already well investigated by nonrailway actors, with algorithms and methods ready to use for railway applications. A system view is necessary to ensure all trustworthy requirements interact continuously in a safe MLOps environment thereby fostering acceptance from regulators, operators and the public. Beyond safeguarding safety-critical applications, we aim to show that fostering deep trust in AI, as now required by regulatory frameworks worldwide, will unlock its full potential and transform the pace of adoption across mission-critical domains.
Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
arXiv:2609.18278 [cs.AI]
(or arXiv:2609.18278v1 [cs.AI] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.18278 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
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Full text under the publisher's open licence · 293 words
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