Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS
Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS

ADA Lovelace Center for Analytics, Data and Applications

Center of competence for data analytics and artificial intelligence in industry

The Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS is a participant in the ADA Lovelace Center for Analytics, Data and Applications, a data analytics collaboration platform for research and industry in Bavaria. The goal of the center is to develop new data analytics processes and algorithms for concrete AI applications that offer added value for industry, data-driven services and research alike.

The ADA Lovelace Center was initiated by Fraunhofer IIS and its working group for supply chain services SCS. Apart from Fraunhofer IKS, other organizations participating in this research network include FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, LMU Munich and Fraunhofer IISB.

Validation of autonomous systems

Through its participation in the ADA Lovelace Center, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS is conducting research into the validation of autonomous systems, such as autonomous driving and Industry 4.0. To ensure basic functionality in the first place, autonomous systems require machine learning processes that can monitor and process complex and unknown situations. When systems with higher automation classifications (level 3 or higher) are involved, so-called deep learning approaches are often used, which employ neural networks for context recognition. This allows autonomous vehicles to carry out tasks such as recognizing objects, interpreting traffic situations and conveying driving instructions.

Safe AI: new methods for validating AI processes

Neural networks cannot be validated, however. Even when deep learning approaches are employed, there is no way to externally comprehend why a neural network makes specific decisions. For this reason, at present these processes cannot be employed in safety-critical systems such as autonomous driving or driverless industrial transport systems without safeguards.

With this in mind, Fraunhofer IKS is conducting research into new methods that will provide the means to adequately validate AI processes for use in high-performance embedded systems. The institute is also developing mechanisms that verifiably monitor all of the characteristics required for the safety of autonomous systems.

Our researchers are furthermore working on a flexible validation concept that can be applied to various learning processes and different types of sensors. That means for instance that information created through machine learning processes and which is partially comprehensible, such as explainable AI, can flow into the validation.

Fraunhofer IKS is also examining suitable AI methods for the monitoring process itself, which can be used as redundant paths or for monitoring incomprehensible machine learning processing.

Machine Learning for reliable perception of autonomous systems

For autonomous systems a reliable perception of the environment is crucial. For example in autonomous driving. But the machine learning (ML) methods used for this purpose are not inherently trustworthy. So, other measures have to be taken to employ ML in safety-critical systems. This video illustrates the research approach of the Fraunhofer IKS within the scope of the ADA Lovelace Center to achieve a more reliable perception of autonomous systems.

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Close collaboration between research and industry

Companies in different industries that have research needs in the area of data analytics can cooperate with the ADA Lovelace Center. Apart from the validation of autonomous systems, the center covers various other fields of application in the area of artificial intelligence. These include driver assistance systems for rail traffic, intelligent power electronics for smart Industry 4.0 applications or the efficient search and display of tracking data for the analysis of game scenes in sports.

Within a cooperation, companies work together with leading AI researchers on concrete industry issues. Participating research institutes and companies are currently researching and developing solutions for application scenarios in areas such as logistics, automotive and medical technology by forming interdisciplinary and agile developer teams for specific periods of time. Through these so-called joint labs, the participants can profit from one another’s experience and know-how and ensure fast transfer of the research results into real applications. The coworking spaces created by Fraunhofer specifically for the ADA Lovelace Center offer a suitable infrastructure.

 

 

 

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Dependable Artificial Intelligence

Fraunhofer IKS makes artificial intelligence technology trustworthy and dependable.

Dependable AI
 

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Safety Architectures for AI Systems

Fraunhofer IKS develops safety architectures for artificial intelligence technologies.

Safety architectures

ADA Lovelace Center services

The ADA Lovelace Center offers the following services to research and industry:

  • Project development
  • Qualification measures
  • Access to research
  • Training and education

The project is being sponsored by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi).