Episode #57 | Robert Fuchs | Human in the Loop and the challenge of shared control

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom speaks with Robert Fuchs, a seasoned engineer in human-in-the-loop automation with decades of experience in the automotive industry.Together, they explore what automation looks like when safety is on the line - and what businesses can learn from it.The conversation spans both car design and enterprise systems:

• Why increasing automation often requires more human skill, not less
• How to build systems that people actually want to use
• The challenge of shared control - technically, psychologically, and legally
• The “moral crumple zone” where humans still absorb the blame when things go wrong
• What 20 years of autonomous driving efforts can teach us about deploying AI in business

Robert’s reflections offer a grounded, cautionary perspective on autonomy - relevant far beyond the road. 

Do you want to know more about Robert Fuchs?
Dr. Robert Fuchs is the AD/ADAS Executive Professional and Head of the Systems Innovation R&D Department at JTEKT Corporation, Japan. Originally from Switzerland, he obtained his PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne before moving to Japan in 2000 to begin working in the automotive industry.  

Robert’s 25-year career includes work on powertrains and vehicle dynamics, with almost 50 published scientific papers and numerous patents, as well as coordinating industry-academia-government collaboration in Europe. Recognized as an intrapreneur, he established the development of automated driving technology at JTEKT focusing on haptics and physical human-robot interaction. He and his team are currently working on the product launch of Pairdriver, a unique technology that seamlessly connects the driver to the automated driving system.