Autonomous Systems (MSc) at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

About

Autonomy, adaptability and network integration are characteristic features of complex IT systems. Conventional control systems and architectures are no longer adequate to realise the potential of these technologies completely, nor are they sufficient to master the complexity of such systems. The solution is to design selected components as "autonomous systems" which can act mainly by themselves without external control. In this context, autonomous mobile and biomimetic robots constitute the forefront of development. The international programme in "Autonomous Systems" offers multifaceted training in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, spanning a whole range of topics involved in the field. These include but are not limited to autonomous agents, robot control architectures, mobile manipulation, compliant control, navigation and control of mobile robots, learning and adaptivity, computer vision, real-time systems, distributed systems, sensor networks, fault tolerance,Â automated planning, and AI reasoning. The four-semester programme aims to challenge talented, motivated and dedicated students, and involves coursework as well as project work. A large portion of the programme, including the preparation of the Master's thesis, involves research and development projects. The project work includes an R&D project and a final thesis project. The programme's affiliation with the Fraunhofer Institute IAIS, one of the leading research institutes in Germany and the largest organisation for applied sciences in Europe, provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to pursue extensive practical training in cutting-edge projects. These may also be carried out at a number of other research institutes or within externally funded research projects at the university (for example, EU-funded projects ROPOD, SciRoc, RockEU2, RoCKIn (completed), BRICS (completed), XPERO (completed), and RoSta (completed) as well as nationally funded projects such as RoboLand, EmoRobot (completed) and AICISS (completed)). This helps to ensure a high-quality education in the field, and also offers problem-oriented training in soft skills such as project management and presentation. Students have the opportunity to carry out research work in cooperation with industrial entities such as Fraunhofer IAIS, IPA, FKIE andÂ SCAI, Locomotec, BGIA, Infineon, Philips, Siemens, General Electric and Bertrand. Presentations by leading international guest speakers are scheduled regularly, and they help to further expose students to the state of the art in a wide variety of robotics-related fields. The programme accommodates a maximum of 25 admitted candidates per semester, thus guaranteeing an exclusive, and high-quality education. An extraordinary level of commitment, proactiveness, self-discipline, and the ability to work well under pressure are expected of candidates.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

For admission to the programme, a professional academic degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) is required in the areas of computer science, mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering. Another requirement is sufficient knowledge of concepts, methods and tools in the field of computer science. Such knowledge is usually acquired in a four-year computer science course with at least 65% computer science content. Programme applicants who have already graduated from a first-level degree course in mathematical/scientific subjects or engineering can be admitted to the programme provided that the course had a computer science content of, as a rule, at least 50%. They may also have to perform additional assignments, to be specified on an individual basis, worth up to 12 ECTS credits. Admission is based solely on credentials and academic excellence.