Annual Report 2002 - Örebro universitet

Annual Report 2002 17
1.5 Graduate Education
An integrated vital part of research at AASS is its Graduate Program and perhaps the most
important "output" of AASS is highly qualified PhD's and Licentiates whose contributions
provide further strength to Swedish industry and academic community.
AASS is performing interdisciplinary research in the field of autonomous embedded systems,
integrating theories, technologies and tools from sensors and measurement technology,
control, artificial intelligence and computer science. Therefore, the AASS graduate program
aims at giving graduate students a strong interdisciplinary background in these different areas
with emphasis on topics relevant to autonomous systems. It is assumed that the students
already have adequate knowledge in the basics of engineering and/or computer science.
Finally, the program prepares students for a career in academia or industry by including topics
such as pedagogy, management and presentation techniques.
60 study points are required for a PhD. Of these, 25 points (or more) should be from a core
curriculum courses, an additional 25 points should be from other courses or self studies in
research relevant topics, and 10 points can be chosen freely. The Director of the Graduate
program is Lars Karlsson, PhD.
1.5.1 Core curriculum
There are five courses that are given on a regular basis. These courses constitute the AASS
core curriculum. They cover the different fields that are researched in AASS. In order to
ensure that students acquire the interdisciplinary knowledge that characterizes AASS, the core
courses are compulsory. The core courses are as follows.
• AI for embedded systems. 5 points + 3 optional points for advanced studies. Teacher:
Alessandro Saffiotti, Mobile Robotics Lab.
• Soft computing for control. 5 points + 3 optional points for advanced studies. Teacher:
Ivan Kalaykov, Intelligent Control Lab.
• Embodied learning. 5 points + 3 optional points for advanced studies. Teacher: Tom
Duckett, Learning Systems Lab.
• Biology inspired control systems. 5 points + 3 optional points for advanced studies.
Teacher: Selim Eskiizmirliler, Sensors and Measurements Lab.
• Research Methodology for Computer Science and Engineering, 5 points, Teacher: Jan
Gustafsson, Mälardalen University.
Of these courses, AI for mobile systems was given in spring 2002.
1.5.2 Occasional courses
The core courses are complemented by courses that are provided on a more occasional basis -
on request - when a visiting researcher provides for such an opportunity, or when a subject of
interest is covered by a graduate course at another university. During 2002, no such courses
were given.