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Ms Marina Rantanen-Modéer

Manager, Saab Underwater Systems

CV

Marina Rantanen Modeer is head of autonomy and GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control) at Saab… (more)

Marina Rantanen Modeer is head of autonomy and GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control) at Saab Underwater Systems. She leads research teams on various aspects of machine-based (synthetic) cognition and underwater robotics. She has worked as a researcher and university teacher at the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany and a research engineer at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. She was part of an MSCA ITN, during which she did a secondment at the TU Eindhoven in the Netherlands. During the period of 2020-2024, Marina was the executive secretary and a board member of the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA). Prior to that she was the chair of the MCAA German chapter between 2018 and 2020. Between 2013 and 2015 she was a graduate engineer at the European Space and Technology Center (ESTEC) of the European Space Agency in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Marina holds MSc degrees in Mechanical Engineering from KTH and General Management from the Stockholm School of Economics. Marina is a warm advocate of science communication and was the editor in chief of KTH magazine Osqledaren 2009-2010. Her interests mainly lie in systems engineering, synthetic cognition and science communication.

Abstract

Abstract:
The emergence of autonomous systems reshapes risk assessment drastically as industry and surrounding… (more)

The emergence of autonomous systems reshapes risk assessment drastically as industry and surrounding key actors approach R&D and technology investment in new ways. Autonomy's focus on system behavior—rather than on the performance of individual subsystems—necessitates a fundamental shift in how industries define their output. Quantifiable subsystem performance metrics is no longer at the heart of R&D. Systems that rely on complex, adaptive behaviors, instead stem from a specification of desired system interactions, often in dynamic, emergent and unpredictable environments.

 

This shift has significant implications for policy. Systems will be built to ensure agents that independently adapt to various scenarios, identify risks, and make decisions. This evolving landscape demands cross-functional collaboration, as engineering teams work closely with behavioral specialists to capture these nuanced requirements. Additionally, risk assessment must move beyond technical reliability to incorporate situational adaptability and ethical decision-making under uncertainty.

 

In terms of predicting which technologies to invest in, there is value in new tools of forecasting capabilities that assess both technological maturity and potential integration complexity. In short: industry leaders need to track advancements related to autonomy. Such areas should drive research agendas and investment priorities in a large variety of sciences. Since industry often funds academic research, this requires new methods of engagement with universities and research institutions, shifting from prescriptive studies of individual components to research that explores emergent system behaviors and decision-making under complex conditions.