# Episode 148: Ethical robot behaviour - Alan Winfield

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-03-13
- Length: 38m
- Episode: 148
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield

## Summary

Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics at the University of the West of England, discusses the development of new standards for ethics and transparency in robotics. He explains the evolution from Asimov's laws to the EPSRC principles, the necessity of an 'ethical black box' for accident investigation, and the IEC 7001 standard for measurable transparency. Winfield also details the BS 8611 ethical risk assessment framework and argues for the critical importance of 'world models' in physical robots to ensure safe interaction with humans.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=7) Introduction and Asimov's Laws
- [2:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=171) EPSRC Principles and Ethical Dilemmas
- [7:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=441) The Ethical Black Box and Accident Investigation
- [12:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=757) IEC 7001 Transparency Standard
- [19:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=1178) Regulation and Government Oversight
- [26:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=1581) World Models vs. LLMs in Robotics
- [29:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-13-episode-148-ethical-robot-behaviour-alan-winfield#t=1778) BS 8611 Ethical Risk Assessment

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Isaac Asimov (other)
- EPSRC principles of robotics (other)
- IEC 7001 (other)
- BS 8611 (other)
- AI incidence database (other)
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory (company)
- University of the West of England (company)
- Cambridge Centre for the Future of Intelligence (company)
- Responsible Technology Institute (company)
- Human Brain Project (other)
- Health and Safety Executive (company)
- Office of Road Transport (company)
- BSI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [525: Some Sort of Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-14-525-some-sort-of-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [ASTM's Aaron Prather on standards and evaluating new robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-02-09-astms-aaron-prather-on-standards-and-evaluating-new-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Robots Need Physical, Not Just Artificial, Intelligence](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-01-03-robots-need-physical-not-just-artificial-intelligence) (EE Times Current)
- [From Sci-Fi to Reality:  Physical AI's Future with Dr. Jan Liphardt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-04-24-from-sci-fi-to-reality-physical-ais-future-with-dr-jan-liphardt) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Roberta Nelson Shea: 2023 Joseph Engelberger Robotics Award winner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-06-02-roberta-nelson-shea-2023-joseph-engelberger-robotics-award-winner) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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