Profiling areas in focus: Developing increasingly efficient and safe autonomous mobile machines

The profiling area System-on-Chip and Wireless Technology for Intelligent Machines consists of three large, independent research areas at the Faculties of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Information Technology and Communication Sciences at Tampere University. To create a truly intelligent, efficient, sustainable, and safe autonomous heavy machinery, it is essential to bring together the expertise on wireless communication, System-on-Chip, and robotics.

One of the obvious benefits of this cross-disciplinary research lies in energy efficiency. On one hand, large and heavy working machinery is used for building homes, producing food, transporting goods, and in mine work, while they also consume a lot of energy and produce emissions accelerating climate change. However, intelligent electrified working machines, on the other hand, may help promoting the green transition. Together, expertise in the above-mentioned three research areas enables the operation of the entire system.

The joint platform of the research areas may be used to create new technological solutions that will take the intelligent machines of the future into a new era, significantly improving situational awareness, sustainability, efficiency, and safety. This is of great strategic importance for both the Finnish technology industry and the University’s engineering and technology research.

Tampere is already a significant player in academic research, education and business in the field of wireless telecommunications, SoC, and smart machines The new profiling area aims to further strengthen this impact.

Chips and wireless technology to support autonomous machines

The basis for a modern society and its digitalisation lies in efficient and reliable communication. In this sense, SoCs have become a very critical asset worldwide. The objective of the EU Chips Act is doubling the EU’s global market share in semiconductors, from 10% now to at least 20% by 2030.

The world’s smartest machines are manufactured in Tampere, Finland, and several areas, such as mining, ports and forests, account for 20–40% of the global market.

There are also other advantages in combining research fields. Professor of Computer Engineering Timo Hämäläinen, who is also one of the founders of the SocHub ecosystem initiative, says that these days algorithms are very demanding.

“We need new kinds of chips that can solve current performance problems. Wireless communication itself is impossible without customised chips. Manufacturing such chips for heavy machines gives a concrete reason for our development work”, he mentions.

Professor of Heavy Machine Automation Reza Ghabcheloo says that the future intelligent machines will work for people and with people.

“In the future, working machines will only be assistants controlled by human operators. Instead of putting people at risk, machines can go to dangerous and dirty places where environmental conditions are poor,” Ghabcheloo says.

“The new technology may not be cheaper than the old one, but it is safer and more efficient. By manufacturing machines that can perform tasks 24/7, we can create more pleasant and sensible jobs for humans,” Hämäläinen adds.

Recruiting new staff and planning future training

The profiling funding is mainly intended to support researchers at the beginning of their career, to increase internationalisation, and to develop research.

The Silicon to Action profiling area seeks to increase the quality and impact of their scientific research, strengthen the international profile of Tampere University, and to distinguish from the academic competitors by creating a multidisciplinary research platform and recruiting new professional personnel.

“We plan to achieve these goals by improving the utilisation and further development of the key research infrastructures, increasing the critical mass on high-quality research, and creating multidisciplinary expertise combining SoC technology, wireless communications, sensors, and intelligent working machines,” Professor of Communications Engineering Mikko Valkama says.

As of spring 2023, two researchers have already been hired for the profiling area. Now they are recruiting two associate professors, and more recruitments will follow in the spring.

A visitor programme and a platform for research collaboration are already ongoing. Next autumn, the training activities within the research areas will be sharpened and aligned. If there is a demand from the industrial sector, it is even possible to establish a new study programme.

“Our goal is to become an internationally recognised multidisciplinary research entity creating and applying new technology for the next generation intelligent machines,” the three professors summarise.

Read more about the Profi7 funding on Academy of Finland website.

Further information

Timo Hämäläinen
 +358 40 849 0777
timo.hamalainen [at] tuni.fi

Reza Ghabcheloo
+358408490346
reza.ghabcheloo [at] tuni.fi

Mikko Valkama
+358 40 849 0756
mikko.valkama [at] tuni.fi