The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has published its inaugural Transport Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, detailing how artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will be harnessed to drive efficiency, resilience and innovation across the country’s transport ecosystem.
The 23-point framework outlines five key action areas – leadership, skills, infrastructure, applications and engagement – to enable safe, scalable deployment of AI-powered tools and systems.
These include robotics for remote asset inspection, machine learning for predictive maintenance, and natural language processing to automate internal workflows.
Notable projects include Network Rail’s Automated Inspection of Vegetation Encroachment (AIVE), which uses aerial and onboard sensors with AI to plan vegetation management and prevent track obstructions.
The UK DfT also supports the development of cyber-physical systems to enable AI to interact with the built environment.
A key focus is preparing the sector for full regulatory support of automated vehicles, vessels and aircraft by 2027.
The action plan supports advanced pilots from 2026, and positions the UK as a global hub for transport AI innovation, backed by public-private partnerships and the £42bn autonomous vehicle market opportunity.
To build institutional capability, the plan includes new AI apprenticeship programmes, secondments and in-house AI training for DfT staff.
Engagement with SMEs, local authorities and academia is central to accelerating adoption and ensuring responsible AI development.
The plan also signals opportunities for robotics developers – particularly those working on intelligent sensing, automation platforms and digital twins – to integrate with the national transport innovation pipeline.
Innovative applications of AI in retail and e-commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, automotive, transport & logistics, and more will be celebrated at the Robotics & Automation Awards on 29 October 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s robotics and automation sectors!
