Non-Bypassable Execution Control in Autonomous Systems

This paper introduces non-bypassable execution control as a foundational architectural mechanism for enforcing runtime safety in autonomous systems. It defines a control layer in which system actions are subject to enforceable constraints at execution time, independent of higher-level planning and decision-making components. Execution control is treated as an intrinsic system property rather than an external supervisory function. This work is part of the Robotics Governance Architecture (RGA) research series, which develops a layered architectural framework for capability governance, non-bypassable execution control, and runtime safety enforcement as foundational principles for safe, bounded, and verifiable autonomous systems. Related works A Governance Architecture for Safe and Bounded Autonomous RoboticsCapability Lifecycle Governance in Autonomous SystemsSafety-Bounded Autonomy in Distributed Robotic Systems As autonomous and AI-driven systems become increasingly adaptive, traditional control mechanisms—based on pre-defined rules or post-hoc monitoring—become insufficient. The core challenge shifts from defining intended system behavior to ensuring that execution remains consistently constrained at runtime to authorized and validated actions, regardless of learning, external inputs, or system evolution. The proposed approach establishes an architecture-level execution control model in which system actions are mediated through a non-bypassable control layer. This layer functions as a structural enforcement point, ensuring that execution remains constrained by predefined and validated capability boundaries. Non-bypassable execution control establishes a strict enforcement boundary between decision-making and actuation, ensuring that actions are executed within defined safety and operational constraints. Key architectural principles include: Mandatory Execution Path EnforcementAll actions traverse a controlled execution pathway. Direct or indirect bypass mechanisms are structurally constrained or prevented, ensuring that components cannot execute actions outside the governed execution control flow. Capability-Gated ExecutionExecution is restricted to actions authorized within a defined capability and execution authority framework. This establishes a strict linkage between capability definition and runtime execution. Runtime Safety SupremacySafety enforcement mechanisms operate independently and may override or halt execution processes if constraints are violated, ensuring that safety is not subordinated to performance or optimization objectives. By enforcing control at the point of execution rather than relying on monitoring or post-validation, this architecture provides a deterministic and enforceable foundation for runtime safety in autonomous systems. This approach enables the development of controllable, trustworthy, and safety-bounded autonomous systems, particularly in safety-critical and distributed environments.