Universiteit van het Noorden
At the RDW Self Driving Challenge, Team University of the North stands out as a true collaboration. This team brings together students from the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Noorderpoort, combining knowledge from different institutions into one ambitious project.
With a group of 16 students from diverse backgrounds, the team is structured into specialized subgroups including automotive engineering, simulation, control and perception, all supported by a dedicated software engineering team. This multidisciplinary setup allows them to tackle the complexity of autonomous driving from multiple angles.
Taking on complexity together
The motivation behind their participation is clear: the opportunity to work on a complex and highly engaging project. Autonomous vehicles are among the most advanced systems in modern engineering, and Team University of the North is eager to explore every aspect of it.
By working on such a broad and challenging project, the team gains hands-on experience that extends far beyond the automotive domain.
Learning across technologies
What excites the team most is the combination of technologies involved in autonomous driving. From artificial intelligence to control systems, the challenge brings together a wide range of disciplines.
This interdisciplinary nature allows team members to develop knowledge and skills that are applicable in many different fields, making the experience both valuable and future-oriented.
How their system works
Their vehicle is a modified Renault Twizy, running their own version of Autoware, built on ROS 2. The system uses GPS-based maps to navigate, while cameras help the vehicle perceive and interact with its surroundings.
By combining mapping and perception, the vehicle is able to understand where it is and how to respond to the environment.
Improving perception and control
For this challenge, the team is focusing on strengthening their perception system using camera-based solutions. At the same time, they are refining their control algorithms to ensure smoother and more stable vehicle behavior.
This dual focus helps them improve both how the vehicle understands the world and how it reacts to it.
The challenge of robustness
One of the biggest challenges they expect is ensuring robustness. Autonomous systems must operate reliably in dynamic and unpredictable environments, and achieving that level of consistency requires careful integration of all system components.
Making sure everything works together seamlessly under real-world conditions is a key focus for the team.
Growing together as a multidisciplinary team
Through this challenge, Team University of the North aims to deepen their understanding of autonomous vehicles while developing expertise within their individual fields.
At the same time, the collaboration across institutions strengthens their teamwork and exposes them to different perspectives and ways of working.
Skilled, driven and collaborative
If they had to describe themselves in three words, the team chooses skilled, driven and collaborative. These qualities reflect both their technical capabilities and their strong team spirit.
Ready to compete
With a powerful combination of knowledge, collaboration and ambition, Team University of the North is ready to take on the challenge.
As they put it themselves: let’s win.
