Knowledge-Based Systems

Work Focus

Research of the Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) group focuses on methods and algorithms for controlling embedded agents to acquire, reason in, and maintain symbolic knowledge about the world to achieve purposeful and goal-directed behavior in the current context, and do so by computation on-line and on-board the agents. We call Embedded Knowledge-Based Systems (EKBSs) the resulting control systems. Autonomous robots are typical agents considered here, but pure software agents are of interest, too. At least some of the respective knowledge must be symbolic in order to be inspectable and communicable. Regarding environment sensing, the focus is on 3D sensor data, such as point clouds, and on methods and algorithms for efficient handling and semantic interpretation.

The KBS group is closely connected with the DFKI RIC Osnabrück Branch.

How to Get There

News Stack

• [Apr 8, 2014] Kai Lingemann has finished his PhD. His thesis Lokalisierung und Kartenbau mit mobilen Roboternis [online].
• [Feb21, 2014] Three persons related to the KBS group have been awarded Studienpreise (study prizes) by Osnabrück University in 2014:
  • Dr. Stefan Stiene, deputy head of the DFKI branch Osnabrück, received the VVO Förderpreis for outstanding achievements in promoting the science region Osnabr&uum\ l;ck (together with Dr. Tobias Thelen of the Fraunhofer Arbeitsgruppe Osnabrück);
  • Dr. Thomas Wieman received the Intevation-Preis 2014 for outstanding achievements in developing and publishing public domain software (in this case, the LVR Toolkit);
  • Sven Schalk recieved one of the MLP Förderpreise for his Masters Thesis "Entwicklung eines Positionierungssystems für mobile Roboter".
  Congratulations! (Press release, Univ. Osnabrück, in German)
• [Jul 11, 2013] The paper 3D Mapping with Time-of-Flight Cameras (S. May, D. Droeschel, D. Holz, S. Fuchs, E. Malis, A. Nüchter, J. Hertzberg; J. Field Robotics 26(11-12):934-965, 2009) is among "the most cited papers at the Journal of Field Robotics since 2009", see JFR page
• [Apr 23, 2013] Thomas Wiemann has finished his PhD. His thesis Automatische Generierung dreidimensionaler Polygonkarten für mobile Roboter is [online].
• [Apr 20, 2012] Our new Robotics textbook is now visible on the publisher's Web pages, see Springer Link. But beware, it's in German!
• [Dec 1, 2011]The EU FP7 joint project RACE (Robustness by Autonomous Competence Enhancement) has started, running for 3 years. We are project partners, with two researcher positions.
• [Sep 29, 2011]The DFKI RIC Osnabrück Branch was formally opened on Sep 29. Press release, UOS
• [Jul 1, 2011]The UOS branch (Außenstelle Universität Osnabrück) of DFKI Robotics Innovation Center, Bremen, has been approved by the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur MWK! [Press release, UOS, Press release, DFKI]
• [Apr 3, 2011]The Osna-Be! team has won the Simulation Mixed Reality competition at Robcup German Open in Magdeburg! [Press release, UOS] (in German)
• [Sep 29, 2010]Note the new category Job Offers on this Web site! Looks like there will be quite a number of opportunities in Osnabrück in the area of AI/Knowledge-Based Systems/Robotics from now on for quite some time!
• [Jan 28, 2010] The developers group Kai Lingemann, Andreas Nüchter, Dorit Borrmann, Jan Elseberg, and Jochen Sprickerhof has been awarded with the Intevation Förderpreis 2009 for the development and public availability of the 6D SLAM software. This award of Osnabrück University is donated by Intevation.
• [Oct 3, 2009] The UOSKurt Team participated at the SICK Robot Day 2009. [Pictures and video]
• [Sep 1, 2009] Our 6D SLAM software is now freely available at Sourceforge. [6D SLAM Site]
• [Jul 5, 2009] The Osna-Be! Mixed Reality team has finished second place at the Finals of RoboCup 2009 in Graz! [RoboCup Mixed Reality results page]

• [Apr 24, 2009] The Osna-Be! team has scored second in the Simulation Mixed Reality demo competition at Robcup German Open in Hannover! [German Open results page]
• [Feb 16, 2009] Andreas Nüchter of the KBS group has accepted a call on an Assistant Professorship for Computer Science (Automation) at Jacobs University Bremen [Andreas Nüchter's Home Page].
• [May 23, 2008] Applications for 8 PhD Grants in the Graduate School "Adaptivität hybrider kognitiver Systeme" are open! Application deadline: July 18, 2008. [ Job ad, U.OS] [Grad School home page]
• [08-04-04] The Graduate School "Adaptivität hybrider kognitiver Systeme" has been accepted for funding [Press Release U.OS]
• [08-04-01] We present our 3D scan matching software at the HannoverMesse 2008, Apr 21-25, 2008, Hall 2, Booth A10. [Product Flyer].

• [08-02-10] The Robotic 3D Scan Repository is online.
• [08-02-07] Andreas Nüchter of the KBS group has been nominated for a Georges Giralt PhD Award 2007 for his PhD thesis Semantische dreidimensionale Karten für autonome mobile Roboter, published in 2006.
• [08-01-14] Thomas Wiemann of the KBS group has received a young researcher's award (Karmann Innovations-Förderpreis) of Universität Osnabrück, donated by Karmann, for his contribution to a method for automatic reconstruction of planar 3D surfaces. (Press Release young researcher's awards ceremony)
• [08-01-14] Stefan Stiene of the KBS group has received a young researcher's award (Intevation-Förderpreis) of Universität Osnabrück, donated by Intevation, for his contribution to developing an interface between USARSim and the Framework Player. (Press Release young researcher's awards ceremony)
• [07-10-31] One of our Kurt2 robots scored second in the Indoor race at SICK RobotDay in Waldkirch, Oct 27. (Press Release)
• [07-10-17] Using Kurt3D, we have generated a 3D map of part of Kvarntorp Mine near Örebro, Sweden. (Press Release)