Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI
A central building block for the safe and efficient use of autonomous mobile machines such as agricultural robots or construction machines is the reliability of their sensory systems. Currently, there are only a few suppliers for the required technologies, as these often only exist as concepts or the required skills and resources are only available in large companies. Therefore, there is a lack of accessible and cost-effective solutions in the section of mobile machines for medium-sized companies.
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning enables high-precision environment perception, but is associated with technological challenges. The generated information must be reliable even under uncertain conditions. This is where the KoSiNuS project comes in. The aim of the collaboration between Saxon supplier companies and Fraunhofer IVI is to develop central components and architectures for autonomous mobile machines in order to validate their perception systems and make them suitable for practical use.
From idea to application – a two-stage development process
The project is divided into two phases: First, the feasibility of the technologies will be investigated to create a solid foundation. Subsequently, prototypes will be developed and tested in real environments. In addition to agricultural robots, the solutions should also be usable for other applications such as mobile construction machines.
Fraunhofer IVI is supporting the project as a research partner and is responsible for developing a comprehensive safety concept with a focus on functional safety, integrating environmental sensors in an autonomous field robot to collect real-life measurement data, and validating the developed technologies through proof-of-concept tests.
Strong partnership for regional value creation
The KoSiNuS research project officially kicked off on April 1, 2025 at Fraunhofer IVI in Dresden. The consortium combines expertise from various sections: Partners Hydrive Engineering GmbH, SIListra Systems, Grünspecht Vision Labs, FusionSystems GmbH and Fraunhofer IVI are working together to take perception systems for autonomous machines to the next level.
The project is supported by Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank.