A digital package for autonomous systems and self-driving vehicles Erasmus Project

Project Title

A digital package for autonomous systems and self-driving vehicles

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cooperation between educational institutions and business; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The project’s main idea was to develop new training content for the rapidly growing field like self-driving cars, UAVs (drones) and other autonomous systems by creating complete practical project-oriented learning and teaching content. The implementation of the developed content was focused on the strategic partnership of different types of organisations, i.e. VET-s, universities and industrial partners, where integrating work-based learning into the implementation process has special attention.

Self-driving cars and other autonomous systems like drones are some of the most paradigm-changing technological developments in today’s world. All major automotive and ICT companies are working in the field as well as many start-up companies are active in the development of new solutions. There is a desperate need for engineers, autonomous system operators, technical managers and start-up entrepreneurs in this field, and it grows dramatically every coming year. Unfortunately, there are no curricula or rarely even a single course where self-driving cars and autonomous systems are taught on the VET or university level. As a result, the gap of required knowledge in the industry and offered study by educational partners is increasing fast.

The project consortium was set up to meet the balanced membership of different organisations that must work together strategically to develop and implement the new training content in autonomous systems. In this consortium, we had 2 VET-s, 2 universities and a coordinating company. Every partner subgroup had its particular role. The company was responsible for the development and offered input – what knowledge is needed on the labour market. Universities offered educational framework and professional learning and teaching material development, whereas VET partners were implementing and piloting the developed material and evaluating the results on the frame of the vocational training environment. The partner group had previously worked together and concluded several successful Erasmus+ projects in the past.

The project following activities carried out intellectual output implementation:
– Research and analysis of existing educational environment and materials
– Definition of educational levels and modules of a new content
– Development of teaching and learning content of autonomous systems
– Design and development of self-driving car simulation models
– Design and development of UAVO training module and teaching material
– Design and development of electric vehicle practical study platform
– Piloting developed modules in VET programs
– Analysis of pilot results and final refinements

The project was implemented and managed using the PM methodology and appropriate software to track and control the management process. The design and development process is supported by the V-cycle development model presented in the VDI2206 guidelines.

Project intellectual outputs were followings:
– O1 Autonomous systems module – Theoretical and practical teaching and learning material of general autonomous topics. Tangible result: a printed and electronic handbook
– O2 Self-driving simulation models – Autonomous vehicle virtual model and simulation environment. Software components are freely downloadable for simulation tasks and exercises.
– O3 Electric vehicle study platform – Physical, electrical vehicle platform for educational purposes, including theoretical material and practical assembly instructions.
– O4 Drones – A comprehensive course for UAV operators – curriculum module and teaching material including most recent European legal environment and policies.

All project intellectual outputs were developed so that they can be applied either separately or in combination according to particular VET or university programs and needs. This approach offers flexibility to use results in different levels and specific situations.
As a long term result, VETs and other educational bodies can quickly establish autonomous vehicles or drones operator, product developer courses into their existing programs. Furthermore, as theoretical material, the physical electric vehicle platform attracts young people to choose engineering and technology-related professions, thus helping to reduce the gap of European labour market needs. In that way, the project significantly impacts the quality of digitalisation and updating of VET education in Europe.
The longer-term impact is the update of VET teachers and managers’ mindset that new technology can be relatively quickly and in an attractive way to be included in VET programs and attracts more young people to choose professional education instead of entering directly into the labour market with low-level skills and minimum education.

Project Website

http://autonomian.roboticlab.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 231622 Eur

Project Coordinator

ITT Group & Country: EE

Project Partners

• Viljandi Kutseõppekeskus
• POLITECHNIKA SLASKA
• RIGAS TEHNISKA UNIVERSITATE
• PROFESIONALAS IZGLITIBAS KOMPETENCES CENTRAM RIGAS VALSTS TEHNIKUMS