NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN)

The NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN) is a Federally funded Strategic Research network. It brings together academic, government, and industrial researchers in the area of field robotics, to develop the science and technologies to eventually allow teams of heterogeneous robots (on land, in the air, on the surface of or under water) to work collaboratively in outdoor environments, and to communicate critical information to humans who operate them or use them.  It is in its 5th year.

The NCFRN provides the national framework for 11 researchers from 8 renowned Canadian universities as well as 10 industrial partners and 3 government agencies to combine their skills and expertise. This network of people and organizations will allow them to make better progress and compete more effectively internationally. The network addresses basic questions in robotics science and the technologies developed by the NCFRN will help address Canadian problems such as our monitoring and maintaining the state of our environmental heritage, patrolling borders (e.g. in the Arctic), dealing with environmental disasters (e.g. oil spills and nuclear accidents), or improving the quality of life of senior citizens.

The investments made in the NCFRN are distributed between the co-applicants organizations, primarily to directly support students. The NCFRN will thus trains highly qualified new researchers, engineers and technicians who, in turn, fuel research and development in Canada.  Graduates of the network currently working in Canadian companies, hold positions in academia and are the founders of Canadian-based startup companies.