Field Robotics Bootcamp (Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme)

This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) focuses on hands-on experimentation with agricultural field robotics and provides students with the opportunity to work directly with a real robotic platform in both workshop and field environments.

The programme combines a virtual preparation phase with a seven-day in-person intensive phase. During the virtual phase, students will participate in a series of short online sessions introducing key technical concepts relevant to the project. These may in clude topics such as agricultural robotics, autonomous navigation in field environments, functional safety, ROS-based robot development, and SLAM for outdoor robotics. The goal of this phase is to establish a shared technical foundation and prepare participants for the practical work during the physical mobility.

The in-person phase is designed as an intensive hands-on bootcamp and takes place in two complementary environments. In the first part, hosted at the TU Berlin project workshop, students will work directly on an existing agricultural robot platform. The robot will already be operational, allowing participants to focus on system integration, small hardware and software adaptations, and preparation for field deployment in a collaborative hackathon-style setting.

In the second part of the programme, the group will move to a partner agricultural farm outside Berlin. There, the robot will be deployed and tested under real field conditions. Students will conduct experiments, collect and analyse data, document system performance, and iteratively improve the platform based on observations from the field tests. Workshop facilities at the site will enable rapid prototyping and further technical adjustments during the testing phase.

Working in international teams, participants will gain practical experience in robotics development, field experimentation, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. The programme emphasises experiential learning,

iterative engineering processes, and the transfer of robotics research into real-world agricultural applications.

After completing the programme, students will be able to:

• explain key concepts and challenges of agricultural robotics and autonomous field operations
• apply methods for robot system integration, including hardware and software adaptation in ROS-based robotic systems
• analyse robot performance in real field environments using experimental data and observations
• design and conduct field experiments for testing autonomous robotic systems
• identify limitations and safety considerations when deploying robotic systems in agricultural environments
• work effectively in interdisciplinary and international teams to solve complex engineering problems
• communicate experimental results and technical insights in a structured and professional manner

The programme is open to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. In principle, students from all study programmes are welcome to participate. However, the BIP has a strong technical focus and is particularly relevant for students in fields such as robotics, mechanical engineering, computer science, agricultural engineering, or related disciplines.

No specific prior coursework is formally required. Nevertheless, basic familiarity with technical subjects such as robotics, programming, mechanical systems, or agricultural technologies is recommended, as the programme involves hands-on work with a robotic platform and technical experimentation in a field environment.

The two-level mutual trust-based quality assurance scheme has been adopted:

• at the university level: Technische Universität Berlin has applied its internal quality assurance procedures and structures to the proposal of Field Robotics Bootcamp it submitted to ENHANCE and to its implementation - the related learning activities,
• at the Alliance level: the body composed of Education Officers has made decisions regarding the inclusion of Field Robotics Bootcamp proposed by Technische Universität Berlin to the Innovative Learning Campus part of the joint ENHANCE educational offer, based on the compliance with the formal requirements and ENHANCE goals.

Physical mobility: 16.09.2026 - 23.09.2026

Virtual component: 02.09.2026, 08.09.2026, 10.09.2026

Student performance will be assessed through a final presentation and a written report prepared by the student teams.

The report will document the work carried out during the programme. This may include technical documentation of implemented adaptations to the robotic system as well as the design, execution, and results of the conducted field experiments.

The final presentation will summarise the team’s approach, the developed solutions, and the main findings from the field tests. Assessment will be based on the quality and clarity of the documentation, the analysis of results, and the presentation of the work.

Technische Universität Berlin / Farming Partner in Brandenburg

Participants are required to bring their own laptop to take part in the technical activities and programming tasks during the workshop.

As part of the programme involves field testing in an agricultural environment, participants should also bring appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for outdoor work.

For the field testing phase, accommodation will be organised on site in a simple camp-style setting. Participants should therefore bring a sleeping bag and an insulating sleeping mat.