R.O.A.M.
Robot Teams for Autonomous Situational Awareness and Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Start: 07/2026
End: 06/2028
Security-related situations are becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. Emergency responders face the challenge of making quick and precise decisions—often under difficult conditions and without complete information. Research is exploring new approaches in this area: How can autonomous robotic systems support human emergency responders in confusing situations? The focus is on developing systems that can independently assess and communicate situational awareness—even in the face of external disruptions or when human access is too risky. Modern sensor technology, artificial intelligence, and networked technologies form the foundation for coordinated robot networks that work together to collect and transmit information.
The R.O.A.M. project is part of the Cyberagentur’s MoIn-LaMAS program. The goal is to develop autonomous robotic systems that can independently establish and maintain a resilient communications infrastructure in crises. MoIn-LaMAS takes a research approach that differs significantly from existing work in the fields of autonomous robotics and mobile communication networks. While many international research projects treat navigation, coordinated control, and radio communication as separate entities, MoIn-LaMAS integrates these disciplines into a single, comprehensive system.
The focus is on developing autonomous systems that not only sense their environment but also simultaneously evaluate the quality of communication links and adjust their positions accordingly. Factors such as radio range, bandwidth, interference, and terrain profiles are part of digital situational awareness. Based on this, the systems independently decide how communication nodes should be optimally distributed or relocated.
FZI’s research aims to test and optimize the behavior of autonomous systems in combination with robust ad hoc communication networks. The goal is to provide decision-makers with an up-to-date situational picture at all times, even in challenging environments. In the future, autonomous systems are expected to explore hard-to-reach areas, create maps, and serve as communication nodes—all to relieve the burden on emergency responders.
As part of the R.O.A.M. project, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology is independently developing methods for autonomous robot teams that generate situational awareness and establish mobile ad hoc communication networks. The project focuses primarily on hardware adaptations, MANet communication, 3D situational awareness, and autonomy in heterogeneous robot teams.
The R.O.A.M. project is financed by the Cyberagentur as part of the MOIN-LAMAS research program.
