WARA-PS is a nationally and internationally unique research arena that supports PhD students to do research activities such as Data collection, Field tests, Demonstrators, and Integrated demonstrators.

Data collection

Use sensors and metrics from a wide range of equipment and robots to collect important data for your research. It can be to test a hypothesis, illustrate a real-world problem, construct a benchmark, or learn a ML (Machine Learning) model for a regression, classification, or anomaly-detection task. Coordinate with WARA-PS operators to plan a scenario or to deploy a new sensor and do a targeted data collection just for you. Data produced from each year’s new and challenging demonstrator scenarios is also available and can be adapted to suit individual PhD student needs.

Field test

Use a robot or smart sensor in a dedicated experiment to provide empirical evaluation for your research. WARA-PS operators help you plan and execute field tests, to make it as smooth as possible for you to utilize the available hardware and software in the WARA-PS core system. Empirical experiments with real robot platforms have never been more accessible. If your needs differ significantly from what can be realistically achieved for this year’s WARA-PS field test week, then the WARA-PS team will do its best to accommodate your needs for next year.

Demonstrator

Participate in demonstrator-driven research, where a field test becomes a well-documented demonstration of your research and the capabilities your research enables for public safety. By demonstrating during the main demonstrator event, representatives from the private and public sector will notice your impressive work and provide valuable feedback on practical applications and new research questions. Become part of a strong professional network across society and invaluable portfolio assets to enhance your future career in academia, industry, or government.

Integrated Demonstrator

Become a part of the main demonstrator event of WARA-PS, by becoming an integrated part of the challenging public safety scenarios where heterogeneous autonomous systems and human operators reach to the occasion and overcome previously insurmountable difficulties for man and machine in the public safety domain. You get additional support to find a good entry point for your piece of the puzzle and become a crucial part of carrying out a solution to one or several of the year’s challenging scenarios. The individual demonstrator component is amplified by the integrated whole, which both enriches the research and further impress peers and future employers. Few people have such experience and portfolio material to show for it.

The summer school is packed with various study visits and social events designed for you to get to learn local actors on Robotics, Autonomy and related technologies, and for you to get to strengthen your bonds as summer school attendees. Below are the main highlights.

Visit to the LiU Robot Lab (also known as UASTech Lab and Terra Lab) during the day. Hidden out of sight in a large warehouse building, side by side with the equally massive exam rooms at Campus Valla, is where LiU’s main robot lab is located. Most students taking their exams next door without ever knowing what goes on some meters away. Cutting edge research in autonomous systems takes place here, using many different aerial and ground robots for advanced collaborative field robotics missions.

Visit to Combitech Reality Labs after hours

Reality Labs is a concept by Combitech focusing on innovation and testing new technologies. We bring ideas to life by refining concepts, exploring new solutions, and developing fast prototypes and Proof of Concepts. The goal is to create sustainable and inspiring products with usability in focus. By demonstrating how to make the most out of cutting-edge technologies, we want to highlight the possibilities of digitalization in a practical way. During your visit, you will get the chance to network with team members and explore some of our solutions firsthand. We will discuss VR, haptics, motion tracking, simulations, gamification and more. We hope to see you there!

Visit to SAAB’s The Rainforest after hours

The Rainforest is SAAB’s internal startup with the purpose of pioneering new technology and markets that will revolutionize the world. The Rainforest is currently working towards creating a high-autonomy multi-agent mid-sized unmanned aircraft system, with the goal to make access to the sky sustainable and available to all, and specifically to support government agencies to save lives where no one else can. Join us for an evening of fun and learn about how we work on realizing the next generation of collaborative airborne autonomous systems through pioneering modern engineering practices and integration of the latest technologies.

Conference dinner

Delicious food followed by a Pub, where you get to chit chat with fellow attendees and the WARA-PS crew (researchers and people from industry).

• (Safe) Autonomous Systems in real environments
• Cloud robotics
• Perception / Computer vision
• Multi-agent coordination and collaboration
• Mission planning and Task planning
• Motion planning and Control
• Execution monitoring
• PRIMER (research): AI Robotics & Autonomy, how to publish in top conferences etc.
• PRIMER (tech): Docker, ROS, MQTT, Simulation environments
• PRIMER (methodology): AI/Field robotics & demonstrator driven research

More information is coming soon