The Wallenberg laboratory for research on
Information Technology and Autonomous Systems
WITAS, the Wallenberg Laboratory for Information Technology and Autonomous Systems, is engaged in goal-directed basic research in the area of intelligent autonomous vehicles and other autonomous systems. Its current project focuses on the development of an airborne computer system that is able to make rational decisions about the continued operation of the aircraft, based on various sources of knowledge including pre-stored geographical knowledge, knowledge obtained from vision sensors, and knowledge communicated to it by data link. There are two main goals or 'deliverables':
  • to demonstrate, before the end of the year 2003, an autonomous aerial vehicles with the kind of high-level autonomy just described
  • basic research in areas that are relevant for the design, development, and use of such systems.
The demonstration was held successfully in October, 2003, and the goal achievement of the project was evaluated by an international evaluation group that delivered its report in February, 2004.

WITAS during 2004

During the year 2004, WITAS is organized as two distinct, cooperating projects: Please refer also to the nformation about the project in general: donation, board, goals, etc.

WITAS in the Future

The continuation of WITAS activities in the end of 2004 and during the following years is presently in the negotiation stage.

Phase II of WITAS, 2000-2003

Phase II of the project, 2000-2003, consisted of the following parts which are described by separate webpages.

Phase I of WITAS, 1997-1999

Phase I of the project occurred during 1997-1999. The WITAS Phase I webpage is still available although of course some of the information in it, such as the personnel list, is now obsolete.