On Thursday 13th November, the People’s Palace welcomed over 100 engaged students for an insightful seminar as part of the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Engineering module. Dr Marc Thomas, Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London and researcher at National Air Traffic Services (NATS), delivered a fascinating talk on AI in Safety-Critical Industries.

Dr Thomas introduced Project Bluebird—a major five-year collaboration between NATS, the Alan Turing Institute and Exeter University aiming to develop the world’s first AI system capable of controlling a sector of airspace during live trials. He explained the unique challenges of applying AI in air traffic control, where safety-critical requirements shape every aspect of system design.

The seminar guided students through the project’s core components, including data requirements, the development of a high-fidelity digital twin of UK airspace, and the different approaches used to design AI agents. Dr Thomas compared rules-based, optimisation-based and reinforcement-learning methods, and discussed key considerations related to explainability, validation and regulation in safety-critical environments.

Students were particularly engaged during the discussion of how AI can support decision-making while meeting stringent safety standards. The talk concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where students raised thoughtful questions about digital twins, safety assurance and real-world deployment of AI systems.

The session offered a compelling look into how cutting-edge AI research is being translated into operational tools for one of the world’s most safety-critical industries, and provided valuable learning for students interested in AI, simulation and aviation systems.