SMD selects D-RisQ to advance autonomous systems

Image courtesy D-RisQ

SMD, a company based in Wallsend near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, are well established in the development of Remotely Operated Vehicles for use in underwater environments, specialising in cable laying equipment.  They have an ambition to autonomise some of their operations and recognise that assurance of the software is key to being able to confidently deploy such advanced technologies. 

The D-RisQ automatic verification technologies cover system and software requirements, design and source code and  provide evidence to support a safety case.

Nick Tudor, CEO and co-founder of D-RisQ said: “The relationship with SMD has been excellent.  We have helped them to undertake initial specification and design work for their autonomy programme and subsequently provided them with our high productivity tools to continue to explore and develop their innovative technology.  We look forward to seeing the results of their efforts in the water soon.”

Mark Collins, SMD’s Innovation Director commented: “Partnering with D‑RisQ strengthens our ability to deliver assured, high‑performance autonomous systems. Their tools give us the confidence that the software behind our next‑generation systems is built on solid ground, which is essential as we push further into autonomous operations. It’s helping our team move faster, without compromising on safety or reliability. We’re excited to keep building on this work together and bring these new capabilities into the water.”

SMD is developing a new generation of autonomous capabilities to enhance how subsea vehicles navigate, make decisions and operate in challenging underwater environments. This work forms a core part of SMD’s long‑term innovation strategy, aiming to improve safety, reduce offshore exposure and unlock greater efficiency for customers across global subsea markets. Assurance of the underlying software is essential to delivering these capabilities.

D-RisQ’s verification tools offers an end-to-end solution for verifying embedded software — from early-stage requirements through to executable code — all underpinned by formal methods, also known as ‘automated reasoning’. This means software intended for critical systems like autonomous decision-making and real-time control can be developed with mathematically proven reliability and compliance to safety standards in various sectors. D-RisQ develops automated tools that bring the power of formal methods into everyday software engineering for embedded systems.

Serving industries where safety and compliance are critical, D-RisQ’s technology helps organisations reduce risk, speed up development and comply with stringent regulatory standards. The company is headquartered in the UK and works across various sectors including autonomous vehicles, aerospace, robotics and defence.