Legally compliant IT concepts and solutions for networks of autonomous UAS, land and water vehicles
The RIVA project enables vehicle networks of different modes (land, water, air) to perform missions autonomously in real time. To do this, an environmental model is created regarding the boundary conditions. The mission is planned and executed using the knowledge generated about the different capabilities of the individual vehicles, with changing boundary or environmental conditions or the capabilities of the network participants having a direct impact on the tasks of the individual vehicles. The execution of the missions is simulated and demonstrated in practice using examples. Click here for a video showing some impressions from the real-world experiments.
In the first phase of the project, a control center was developed and a vehicle network, along with the necessary communication structure, was set up and validated in various scenarios. In addition, the Chair of Public Law examined the relevant legal framework for the various systems used. Based on this, the law is to be systematically developed further toward an approach that integrates the various modalities.
In the current phase of the project, a mine clearance scenario is being investigated in which drones and rovers must work together to clear a minefield. The AI-generated representation illustrates the scenario in which helicopters first survey the area from the air and the ground vehicles then approach the mines found in order to place a blast charge and render them harmless.
RIVA is funded by the German Armed Forces Center for Digitalization and Technology Research (DTEC.Bw) and will run from November 1, 2020, to December 31, 2026. Two different professorships from two different faculties at Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg, a chair at Ruhr University Bochum, and an industrial partner, who provides the necessary hardware connection and simulation environment, are working on the RIVA project.
The project is managed by the Chair of Control Engineering. Person of contact is Mr. Mirco Alpen.
Involved HSU-professorships
- Professorship of Control Engineering with Anne Schweim and Marie Schweim
- Professorship of Automation Technology with Marvin Zager and Miguel Vieira da Silva
Current partners
- Lehrstuhl für Automatisierungstechnik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum mit dem Ansprechpartner Gianluca Manca
- it-objects GmbH – pleas contact Tobias Brogt
Former partners
Funded by
Letzte Änderung: 12. February 2026