Revolutionary AI software for autonomous robots unveiled at the Hannover Messe!

Revolutionary AI software for autonomous robots unveiled at the Hannover Messe!

At this year's Hannover Messe the... TU Ilmenau a revolutionary AI-powered perception software that acts as a central control system for autonomous robots. Developed by Qais Yousef and Prof. Pu Li, head of the process optimization department, the software precisely records traffic situations and environmental conditions and enables robots to act proactively and reactively. A particular advantage lies in their ability to analyze not only the movements of pedestrians, but also their facial expressions in order to predict possible intentions.

This innovative technology has the potential to significantly improve the behavior of robots in dynamic environments. This allows robots to change their routes in a timely manner and avoid abrupt braking maneuvers. The software can also detect environmental influences such as pavement conditions, weather and lighting conditions using a 2D camera and even communicate with traffic light systems. This opens up a wide range of applications, including delivery robots, sidewalk cleaning robots and assistance robots for visually impaired people.

Innovations in mobile technology

In addition to developments in the area of ​​autonomous robotics, TU Ilmenau also presents advances in the area of ​​mobile networks. The focus here is on intelligent and energy-efficient campus networks that are tailored to individual user needs and support the future of the 6G mobile communications standard. Scientists led by Prof. Andreas Mitschele-Thiel have developed a 5G+ campus network as a research platform for autonomous systems and industrial automation.

A central feature of these campus networks is intent-based networking, which enables automated network control based on natural language input. Network operators can express their requirements in simple language while the system automatically implements and adapts to these requirements. With the Energy Saving (ES)-xApp/rApp, a software application was also developed that optimizes the energy consumption of O-RAN-based 5G campus networks, which supports more environmentally friendly operation of the mobile networks.

Security and challenges of AI in traffic

The discussion about safety when using autonomous vehicles is more topical than ever. Verena, a 39-year-old driver, reports on her experiences with an intelligent car that accelerated over the speed limit despite intelligent assistance systems. These incidents raise significant questions about the safety of AI systems that must be able to detect traffic situations in real time and respond accordingly. Artificial intelligence learns by processing data, but this also means that it is susceptible to misinterpretation.

According to a 2018 study, an AI system misunderstood a stop sign because of an irritating piece of paper. These incidents illustrate that AI systems are not infallible and can potentially be manipulated by misinformation. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) therefore advocates technical guidelines and standards to increase the safety of AI in traffic.

The Mobility and Intelligent Transport Systems Working Group Learning Systems Platform has discussed at various events how self-driving cars need to be designed to be safe and user-friendly. Important questions also include the legal and ethical requirements that must be placed on AI systems in mobility. To increase trust in autonomous technologies, it is essential that these systems are designed to be verifiable and robust.