Micro aerial vehicles (MAV) such as multicopters have become a popular research tool in recent years and are used in an increasing number of application domains, e.g., aerial photography and inspection tasks. Most MAVs are remotely controlled or follow GNSS waypoints in obstacle-free heights. Many tasks require navigation in complex 3D environments, close to obstacles, however. Hence, the degree of autonomy of the MAVs must be increased.
The objective of the school is to give students deep insights into the currently leading approaches to 3D environment perception, mapping, navigation planning, and control of autonomous MAVs. Lectures by internationally leading experts will provide the necessary theoretical background for hands-on exercises with MAVs.
The program is based on three pillars:
- Theory: Ranging from state estimation based on multimodal sensors and environment mapping by cameras and laser scanners over control of dynamic flight, obstacle avoidance, navigation planning, and exploration to contact with the environment and aerial manipulation.
- Case studies: Leading micro aerial systems for research on autonomy such as Ascending Technologies Firefly, the "Mapping on Demand" and InventAIRy copters of University of Bonn, the multirotors developed at CMU, the aerial manipulators of University of Seville, and the DelFly flapping wing MAVs of TU Delft will be presented.
- Practical exercises: Students will apply the theory in hands-on tutorials. Ascending Technologies will provide sensor equipped Firefly copters for these. Participants are encouraged to also bring their own micro aerial vehicles. Space for indoor and outdoor experiments with autonomous micro aerial vehicles will be available.
Speakers:
- Michael Achtelik, Ascending Technologies, Germany
- Gabriel Agamennoni, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Daniel Cremers, TU Munich, Germany
- Guido C. H. E. de Croon, TU Delft, Netherlands
- Aníbal Ollero, University of Sevilla, Spain
- Sebastian Scherer, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
- Angela Schoellig, University of Toronto, Canada
- Cyrill Stachniss, University of Bonn, Germany
Application for participation:
The number of participants is limited. Interested researchers and students need to apply by June 20th. For more information and application submission please visit:
http://www.iais.fraunhofer.de/index.php?id=6257
Organizers:
- Sven Behnke, University of Bonn / Fraunhofer IAIS
- Hartmut Surmann, Hochschule Westfalen / Fraunhofer IAIS
- Rainer Worst, Fraunhofer IAIS
Acknowledgment:
The school is supported by the EU FP7 ICT project TRADR "Long-term Human-Robot Teaming for Robot Assisted Disaster Response", grant agreement no. 60963.
