Vattenfall's prize for best thesis 2024

“I looked at three different navigation issues, rapid obstacle avoidance of moving obstacles, coordination and safety in multi-robot systems, and methods for robots to explore and map previously unknown areas,” says Björn Lindqvist.

During his PhD, Björn Lindqvist developed new methods for robot navigation, but he emphasizes that the greatest contribution, both to his own research and to the entire research group, was the experimental testing of algorithms in real-world environments. Particular focus was placed on applying the research in challenging field environments, including underground mines through collaborations with the mining industry.

“We really expanded the state-of-the-art within autonomous robotic systems in such environments,” says Björn Lindqvist.

The research is not only theoretically significant but also has great societal value. Research on autonomous robots in dynamic and unpredictable environments can play a crucial role in future crisis management, such as during earthquakes, tunnel fires, or other disasters where it is too dangerous to send humans directly.

“Autonomous robots can explore dangerous areas and provide critical information to rescue teams before they enter. This is exactly what our group’s research was about – developing robots that can navigate independently and safely in such situations and save lives.”

The jury’s statement: Vattenfall’s prize for best thesis 2024 is awarded to Björn Lindqvist for his work on safe and robust navigation for autonomous robots in challenging environments shared with humans. Björn’s work in robotics and artificial intelligence has its primary application in the use of flying drones for search and rescue tasks in underground environments, with a particular focus on experimental validation in mining environments. The work represents advances in flying drones' ability to avoid both fixed and changing obstacles through reactive navigation. These flying drones should therefore be able to dynamically navigate previously unknown areas, and multiple autonomous robots should be able to coordinate safely within a system. This is considered important for supporting the development of hybrid environments where autonomous robots and humans can share spaces safely and efficiently, for example, to increase the degree of automation for the mines of the future.

“Björn Lindqvist’s work is not only groundbreaking in the field. It will also play an important role for industries and organizations working in dangerous environments, where this type of drone not only delivers good and reliable data but also makes it possible to improve and secure the working environment. We are very proud to present this prize for the best thesis to Björn,” says Tord Eriksson, CEO of Vattenfall Vattenkraft.

“It feels really good, and I’m glad that the dissertation has been recognized. A big thank you to my supervisor, George Nikolakopoulos, Professor and Head of Subject for Robotics and AI, and to the entire group for their support and collaboration,” says Björn Lindqvist.

The dissertation and research results will contribute to advancing the development of autonomous systems, with potentially life-saving applications in the future.