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Project · Prototyping

Off-Road 1/10-Scale UGV for Remote and Autonomous Driving

Background
Eira Systems is a Swedish start-up developing electrically powered unmanned ground vehicles for logistics, CASEVAC and other supporting missions in demanding off-road environments. Eira has developed and tested the full-scale Eira-X prototype and has now received a contract to develop the framework for a second-generation platform together with a major Swedish defence actor. Eira is based at The Yard in Lindholmen, Gothenburg.

A small UGV can scout where our larger UGV cannot go, and for many tasks, such as reconnaissance, it does the job better and far cheaper than a large one. It also lets us test autonomy features quickly and cheaply.

Goal description
We have already built a 1/10-scale prototype, mainly for testing autonomy features, but it can be improved a lot. The project is to develop it further or build a new one from scratch. You start from an off-the-shelf 1/10-scale RC car suited to gravel roads or true off-road driving, and rebuild it for remote driving over the internet and for self-driving. It should keep working in rain and wet conditions, withstand vibration and be designed for electromagnetic compatibility, with long battery life and well-integrated sensors.

Topics
Some directions the work can focus on are:

  • Waterproof enclosure with SBC cooling
  • Operation in extreme cold
  • Autonomous charging platform
  • A wired link for places where radio fails: the vehicle lays a fibre or Ethernet cable as it drives deep into e.g. a building, then reverses along its path and reels the cable back in
  • UGV–UAV collaboration platform, e.g. a small FPV UAV that launches from and lands on the UGV
  • Small UGVs acting as mesh relays that extend the link of the large UGV, e.g. into buildings
  • Rollover prevention and self-correcting

Many of these topics are also relevant for our full-scale UGV. You can work directly towards it, or start on the 1/10 scale and then port your solution to the large one.

We have 3D printers, tools, sensors and computers you can use, and we also buy whatever else is needed. We would love for you to bring your own ideas, and we will support you in shaping the project around them.

Student background
We require applicants to be curious, positive and ambitious and, because of our industry, citizens of a NATO or EU member state. We assess applications on the following, in order of priority (attaching something for one of them is enough):

  1. A relevant idea you are really passionate about, your own or one from the topics above
  2. Projects (school, hobby or work) in a related area
  3. Your personality and motivation for this project
  4. Merits
  5. Knowledge (your academic background and relevant courses)

Apply preferably before 1 November to andreas.munck@eirasystems.com.

NOTE: We have a few other proposals up in other areas also.