Essential Technologies for Autonomous Systems: Theory, Verification, and Applications

自动无人驾驶飞行器(AUV)是一种能够在空中、地面、水面或水下进行机动的系统。AUV在民用、军事和安全领域有许多潜在的应用，AUV对加拿大有很大的潜在好处，原因有很多。这个NSERC联盟项目是申请者和Quanser Consulting Inc.之间的NSERC Engage项目的自然延续。该项目旨在推动自主无人驾驶汽车的一些关键技术(多辆自动驾驶汽车的合作控制；高精度导航和定位；最优运动规划和决策)在自动交通、自动驾驶汽车、协作地图等应用中的应用。这些技术的成功开发将进一步有助于保持加拿大作为自动无人驾驶汽车领域领先研究国家的地位，并将转化为参与这些领域的加拿大公司的经济利益。该项目对于在加拿大国内开发下一阶段AUV研发所需的专业知识和人才也很重要。 拟议的研究有可能使基于自动无人驾驶车辆的新创新产品和服务能够在加拿大开发和生产。这将带来经济扩张和创新储蓄的好处。自动无人驾驶汽车的应用将提高加拿大工业的竞争力；新技术应用产生的创新产品将对加拿大的健康和生活质量产生积极影响。

Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUVs) are systems that are capable of maneuvering in the air, on the ground, above or under the water. There are a number of potential applications for AUVs in civilian, military, and security areas and AUVs have great potential benefits to Canada for numerous reasons. This proposed NSERC Alliance project is a natural sequel to the NSERC Engage project between the applicant and Quanser Consulting Inc. It aims to advance some essential technologies (cooperative control of multiple autonomous vehicles; high-precision navigation and positioning; optimal motion planning and decision-making) for autonomous unmanned vehicles in applications, such as autonomous transportation, self-driving cars, collaborative mapping, etc. The successful development of these technologies will further contribute to maintaining Canada's status as a leading research country in the area of autonomous unmanned vehicles, and will, in addition, translate into monetary benefits for the Canadian companies who participate in these areas. This project is also important for developing expertise and talent within Canada needed for the next phases of AUVs research and development. The proposed research has the potential to enable new innovative products and services, based on autonomous unmanned vehicles, to be developed and produced in Canada. That would bring benefits of economic expansion and innovation savings. The application of autonomous unmanned vehicles will improve the competitiveness of Canadian industries; innovative products arising from new technology applications will impact positively on Canadian's health and quality of life.