Cooperative and Autonomous Systems

Cooperative and autonomous systems, in particular with with incomplete control and incomplete knowledge of their environment profit greatly from semantic perception for their rational and goal-oriented action: machine perception, complex data modeling, sensor data interpretation, performance optimization, human-in-the-loop, explanation – these and more aspects of robust and reliable performance are impossible without applying semantic information processing. However, intertwining semantic perception and reasoning as well as system control in closed-loop and in real-time is a fundamental challenge in AI. Within this spectrum, research in the DFKI research department Cooperative and Autonomous Systems (CAS) focuses on semantic perception-based AI systems, which can act both interactively and autonomously, in particular enabling explainable approaches for trusted AI system design.

Applications of our basic research in several domains range from developing cooperative information systems like those for decision support to long-term autonomous robots and integrating the respective technology for assisting humans in current automated processes. Our most prominent application domain is agriculture: as a data-intensive as well as knowledge-intensive, highly digitalized area featuring uncertainty and dynamics, it facilitates AI technology to be profitably applied. 

With the "Agrotech Valley", the Osnabrück region offers an eco-system of innovative medium-sized ag-tech companies and research partners in agri-food, in which our respective research transfer is embedded.

Besides agriculture, further transfer domains include, for example, (intra-)logistics as well as process analysis and optimization, e.g., in technical domains.