Innovative ideas for the future of autonomous systems
The finalists of the HAL2025 ideas competition organized by the Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) have been announced. The three best concepts for the development of autonomous intelligent systems in a swarm were selected from 66 submissions. The next phase requires detailed concepts, which will be evaluated by a grand jury. Prize money of 100,000 euros awaits the most outstanding concept.
The Cyberagentur jury, consisting of scientists from various disciplines, selected the three finalists from a total of 66 submissions in the HAL2025 ideas competition. For the next round, the jury was impressed by the concepts of the following idea providers:
- Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF from Magdeburg, with its focus on efficient automation, intelligent systems and practical research for Industry 4.0.
- Prof. Dr. Heiko Hamann, with his expertise from his work on cyber-physical systems at the University of Konstanz.
- Electrical engineer Martin Matt, with his practical experience in big data analysis, machine learning and system and product development.
The latter two entered the competition as individual competitors.
The three ideas deal with very different approaches from the field of autonomous systems in a swarm. For example, the aim of one of the ideas is to develop a swarm-intelligent sensor carrier system for the cyber-secure risk assessment of major events in public spaces. Another concept deals with the reconnaissance of challenging and unknown environments through GPS-independent three-dimensional environment mapping using terrain-capable air, land and water robots. The third idea concept focuses on robust, autonomous communication and navigation in heterogeneous swarms of robots operating in extremely difficult and unpredictable environments.
Work is now beginning on detailed concepts, which will be completed by April 2025.
“We are delighted with the quality and innovative spirit of the ideas submitted,” explains Dr. Eva-Maria Heinke, project manager of the competition. “My special thanks go to all the participants whose concepts did not make it through to the next round. Your commitment and creativity are essential for pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”
The next phase of the competition provides for the creation of detailed concepts by the end of April 2025. The best submissions will then be evaluated by the grand jury. The grand jury consists of Friederike Dahns (Head of the Cyber and IT Security Department at the BMI), Lieutenant General Michael Vetter (Head of the Cyber and Information Technology Department at the BMVg), Claudia Plattner (President of the BSI), Major General Jürgen Setzer (Deputy Inspector at the Bundeswehr Cyber and Information Space Command), Wilfried Karl (President of ZITiS) and Prof. Dr. Christian Hummert (Research Director of the Cyberagentur). The announcement of the winner is planned for the end of August 2025.
Prof. Dr. Heiko Hamann sees this step as an opportunity “to enrich my field of research with a new idea that does not follow the normal paths of research work, but can complement them. This challenge appealed to me.”
“We are delighted that we have made it to the final round with our research idea for safe living,” says Prof. Klaus Richter from the Fraunhofer IFF. “The idea is designed to enable protection and rescue in complex emergency situations in public spaces. A swarm-intelligent sensor carrier system could serve as a basic system for cyber-secure risk assessment, for example at major events, and support preventive and reactive measures.”
Martin Matt is delighted “that the Cyberagentur is opening up an opportunity to work on the technological future of this country with this competition. As an electrical engineer, this is a great opportunity for me to combine my enthusiasm for robotics with my technical expertise! It would be an honor to see parts of my elaborations implemented in real projects.”
The winning concept will receive prize money of 100,000 euros and will serve as the basis for a Cyberagentur research program. The other two finalists will share prize money totaling 50,000 euros.
Further information and registration:
https://www.cyberagentur.de/schwerpunkte/schluesseltechnologien/