by Dr Joachim Stöter
Head of the Open University Department of the C3L - Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Oldenburg

Prof. Dr Ralph Bruder
, President of the University of Oldenburg

When technology needs to understand the world –
Cyber-physical systems and artificial intelligence: the case of autonomous driving

by Prof. Dr Martin Fränzle
Department of Computing Science, Universityof Oldenburg

Cyber-physical systems are physical – that is, tangible systems governed by the laws of nature – whose behaviour and properties are influenced and altered by embedded computers that interact with them. By linking the physical and digital worlds, such systems are increasingly being enabled to perceive their environment, process information and react to it, thereby acquiring a certain degree of ‘intelligence’. In everyday language, the term ‘smart’ is frequently used to describe such systems. For example, we speak of ‘smart lighting’ and ‘smart homes’ in the building sector, of ‘smart grids’ in energy and utilities technology, and, last but not least, of ‘smart cars’ and ‘smart infrastructures’ in automotive and transport technology.
In this lecture, we will use the example of autonomous driving to explain what cyber-physical systems are and what role AI plays in their implementation. Furthermore, we will examine the challenges associated with the deployment of such systems: what conditions must be met to ensure that their use is socially responsible and economically viable? What technical and methodological difficulties still need to be overcome on the path to widespread availability?