SUMMATION: Sustainable Autonomous Systems and Solutions

The aim of the project is to increase the innovation capacity of SMEs and the use of advanced technologies in their activities. The project activities include encouraging entrepreneurial processes, learning practices, methods of advanced technologies.

The common challenge that the project will address is the subarctic climate that provides unique opportunities, e.g. nature tourism, but also specific challenges, e.g. for reindeer husbandry, municipalities, as well as for road and rail organizations to provide infrastructure that is safe despite ice, snow, slippery roads, avalanches and floods.

The subarctic climate of the Programme area is characterized by cold winters, but also warm summers. From a central European perspective with four seasons, winters are described as long and summers as short. However, living in the area, we experience eight different seasons, a categorization that originates from the Sami tradition. This adds spring winter, spring summer, fall summer, fall summer, fall winter, between spring, summer, fall and winter. This better describes how the climate and nature of the area gradually changes over the course of a year. It thus presents unique opportunities, but also specific challenges. The main industries that depend on climate and nature are, of course, reindeer herding and tourism and hospitality. Reindeer husbandry in particular is looking for ways to better adapt tradition and growth to cope with climate change. The tourism and hospitality industry is looking for more sustainable methods of product and service development. Stakeholders responsible for infrastructure such as roads and railways also experience challenges during winter (ice and snow), spring (floods, potholes), summer (slippery asphalt due to rain) and fall (cold nights forming ice, wet and slippery leaves). In addition, municipalities struggle to create attractive environments for their citizens to live in, e.g. by supporting outdoor leisure activities in all seasons. In this context, smart technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) technologies, can support sustainable inspections, deliveries and search and rescue services, and other technologies, such as 3D scanning, can support interactive maps. As initiated in the previous AA3D project (which ended in June 2022), drone technology can support hiking experiences and be used to collect reindeer instead of, for example, using ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) which cause damage to the sensitive ground.

Overall objectives of the project

The project aims to increase innovation and adoption of advanced technologies among the target groups. Inspiration for new services will be provided by demonstrating practical use cases. The activities aim to promote entrepreneurship, learning by doing and to stimulate reflection on innovative processes and practices based on the use of advanced technologies. The project proposal will thus contribute to the Interreg Aurora priority 1.1 by linking technology development (UAV and UGV) and service development. Addressing specific problems related to accessibility and low-carbon transportation technologies. Moreover, as this project proposal cross-fertilizes the expertise in UAV/UGV technologies, weather-related applications in intelligent transport, design and innovation processes and methodologies, it contributes to the Programme's objective of driving sustainable growth and enabling green and digital transition.