The Interreg Aurora funded project AUTONOMIC is progressing steadily in developing autonomous robotic solutions for environmental monitoring, with recent work focusing on experimental site inspections, sampling design, and early-stage data collection.
A key objective of the project is to combine robotics, environmental science, and data-driven modelling to improve monitoring in challenging Nordic conditions.
Figure 1: Robotic platforms carrying the sampling tools for soil and water sampling. Left – Soil sampling robot, Right – water sampling robot
Field inspections and sampling campaigns
During the initial phase of the project implementation, project partners visited experimental sites and carried out preliminary sampling campaigns in Lapland, as shown in Figure 1. These activities are essential for understanding environmental conditions and defining requirements for robotic sampling systems.
The field activities are supported by AUTONOMIC’s associate partners, Kaunis Iron and Agnico Eagle Finland, who provide access to sampling locations and operational environments. This access is essential for collecting representative environmental data and testing monitoring approaches under real Nordic conditions.
Manual sampling and field observations are being used to:
- Identify suitable monitoring locations
- Define sampling protocols for water, soil, snow, and ice
- Collect baseline data to complement historical and open-source datasets
This combined dataset will later support the development of digital twins, enabling advanced modelling and analysis of environmental processes.
From manual methods to robotic systems
A central focus of AUTONOMIC is the transition from traditional sampling methods to automated, robotic solutions.
Current development work, as shown in Figure 2, includes:
- Designing and refining sampling tools and robotic end-effectors
- Planning integration of manual sampling tools into robotic platforms
- Developing coherent sampling procedures suitable for autonomous operation
- Testing robotic functionality in challenging natural environments
This work is led collaboratively across partners, with expertise ranging from robotics and AI to environmental analysis and hydrological modelling.
Figure 2: Inspection of the sampling sites and initial measurements. From left: Water sample collection from the LUKE’s site close to the Kilpisjärvi area. Ice sample collection from the Pallasjärvi lake. On the right top, water sample collection from the lake close to Kaunis Iron mine. On the bottom right, snow sample collection from another LUKE’s site close to Kittilä.
Interdisciplinary collaboration in action
AUTONOMIC brings together complementary expertise:
- Robotics and system design led by Luleå University of Technology
- Intelligent sampling tool development and digital twin work by the University of Oulu
- Environmental sampling protocols and analytics by Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Data analysis and hydrological expertise from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
- Soil sampling and consultancy support provided by Mitta AB
- Industry engagement and access to real-world testing environments supported by associate partners Kaunis Iron and Agnico Eagle Finland
- Additional support in accessing historical data is provided by the County administrative board of Norrbotten
This interdisciplinary setup ensures that technological development is both scientifically robust and practically applicable.
Figure 3: Consortium partners visiting the sampling site in Kilpisjärvi.
Looking ahead
Next steps focus on deeper system integration, including combining different data sources and advancing the autonomy of robotic sampling systems. The goal is to enable reliable, repeatable, and scalable environmental monitoring solutions for Nordic regions.
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Learn more about the Interreg Aurora project AUTONOMIC.
