Developing an Integrated, Context-Aware Ethical Framework for Autonomous Vehicles: Bridging Theory and Practice

This research proposal addresses a critical gap in the field of AI ethics for autonomous systems by developing an integrated, context-aware ethical framework for autonomous vehicles. While autonomous vehicles promise significant benefits in transportation safety and efficiency, they face complex ethical challenges in decision-making, particularly in scenarios involving risk distribution and potential harm. Current approaches to ethical AI in autonomous vehicles operate in isolation, with limited consideration for context, transparency, and adaptability. This research proposes to bridge this gap by developing a novel framework that integrates social contract theory, crowdsourced ethics, and risk ethics approaches, while enhancing context-awareness, transparency, and adaptability. Through a mixed-methods approach involving expert consultation, stakeholder engagement, computational modeling, and empirical evaluation, this research aims to create a practical framework that can be implemented by industry, inform policy development, and enhance public trust in autonomous systems. The expected contributions span theoretical advancements in ethical AI, technical innovations in implementation, practical applications for industry and policy, and broader societal impacts on the ethical development of autonomous systems.