A physics-grounded framework for evaluating autonomous system trustworthiness.
Kinetic Energy
The energy a vehicle carries. The focal variable in safety — the agent of harm in every crash and every outcome.
How we think about Kinetic Energy
Mass and speed set it. Speed scales by its square, so small changes in speed produce large changes in energy. Biomechanical limits anchor what “survivable” actually means.
The gap between energy and tolerance. A trustworthy system holds it with discipline — neither too thin nor unnecessarily wide.
How we think about Margin
The gap between energy and tolerance, read second by second. Five states make it legible — from competent to exposed — so a system’s discipline can be seen, not just claimed.