Autonomous Systems:Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

The rapid development of microprocessor technology and the continuous growth of integration density of electronic and mechatronic components yields a significant cost reduction in high tech products. Driven by this development, it becomes feasible to embed intelligent information processing and communicating devices into all sorts of robotic systems such as production facilities, traffic and transport systems, toys etc.

In future, IT-systems will be more and more embedded into complex mechatronic applications in both manufacturing and human daily environments where they tend to become invisible behind the system's functionality. Autonomy, adaptability and network integration are characteristic features of these systems. Conventional control systems and architectures are no longer adequate to completely realise the potential of these technologies, nor are they sufficient to master the complexity of such systems. The solution is to design selected components as autonomous systems which can act mainly by themselves without external control most of the time.

In this context, autonomous mobile and biomimetic robots form the forefront of development. In the Master's programme in Autonomous Systems, students will train the practical skills and intellectual abilities necessary for the design and development of autonomous, technical systems.

The Master's course in Autonomous Systems covers a broad range of foundations, but has a clear focus on advanced information processing techniques for such systems. Topics covered include, but are not restricted to, autonomous agents, robot control architectures, navigation and control of mobile robots, learning and adaptivity, computer vision, mathematics of dynamic systems, real-time systems, distributed systems, mechatronics and sensor networks, microcontroller programming, and design and implementation of embedded systems.