Autonomous Systems WS26/27

Today’s automation is characterized by “simple” control and regulation systems; in complex situations, humans still have to intervene. Autonomous systems, on the other hand, decide independently—even in more complex situations—how they must behave to achieve their goal. These include autonomous robots that move through natural environments and perform tasks independently (such as service robots in factories or hospitals, or even on Mars), future driver-assistance systems in cars that enable highly automated or even fully autonomous driving, and “smart” factories (Industry 4.0). Such systems must perceive their environment via sensors, evaluate and interpret the information, and generate an appropriate response. This course provides an overview of current methods in autonomous systems. In the practical component, students will work on small-scale project tasks, implement algorithms, and test them experimentally.