Automation and robotics

The research field is an inter-disciplinary approach which includes both basic and applied research on identifying novel applications of cutting-edge material science, sensor technology, advanced signal processing and advanced control. Exploring and proposing novel techniques for modelling and embedded advanced control in order to address the industrial needs is a central aspect of this research. his approach provides students the environment to practice hands-on the advantages of applying robot technology to solve real-world problems and this are integrated into their academic educational programmes. Current research is focused on human-/environment-robot interaction, intelligent machines and automation systems in the forest and energy industry, embedded and intelligent control, multimodal feedback as well as biologically-inspired architecture design.

Overview

The research on automation and robotics focuses on four different areas with applications to the forest, steel and solar energy industry: aging, environment, energy and education.Ìý

  • Energy: Adaptive control algorithms for active analysis, diagnosis to make predictions of energy consumption and take corrective actions in time for load balancing for PV systems with battery storage.Ìý
  • Environment: Adaptive control system methods and AI algorithms implemented and tested to detect the position of single reference marker as an input to control system to be able to perform the autonomous control of a small drone for environmental monitoring.Ìý
  • Aging: AI algorithms implemented and tested to estimate the position of food in the plate as an input to the control system of an eating aid. Vision based steering will test with a robotic arm with gripper.
  • Education: Industrial oriented PBL aims to provide the the students may not only learn the basic concepts of complex system but also may obtain an understanding of the real applications of the theoreticalÌýconcepts from a interdisciplinary approach within the different areas of STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math) education.

Current projects and news: