Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

This is an Industrial Stream NSERC CREATE training program - SMART Autonomous Robotic Technology for Space Exploration (SMART-ART). Space exploration is not only the frontier of technology innovation but now also an important economic frontier. Canada's contribution to the NASA Lunar Gateway project, Lunar Gateway Robotics, has created a surging demand in Canada for Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) with smart space robotics training. There are currently 3 challenges in Canadian space sector: shortage of well-rounded HQP with inter/multidisciplinary skill sets related to Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, and Autonomous Robotics for space exploration; an aging workforce with average age of 54; and gender inequality. The SMART-ART program will address these challenges by training HQP trainees (undergraduate and graduate students, PDFs) through an experiential industry-oriented mobility-focused training program. HQP will develop essential inter/multidisciplinary technical and professional skills through collaborative and integrated activities in four research areas: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Autonomous Robotics, and Systems Engineering for space exploration. The ultimate objective of SMART-ART is to foster a critical mass of HQP for space industry and boost trainees' interdisciplinary job-readiness level. The SMART-ART program will train HQP through 8 interlinked Training Elements: 1) Industrial Internships & Site Visits; 2) EDI Essentials & Leadership Training; 3) Student Mobility & Interdisciplinary Experience; 4) Enriched Training and Mentoring Experiences; 5) Technical Short Courses; 6) Professional Short Courses; 7) Entrepreneurship Experience; and 8) Annual Summit. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives have been integrated into all program components. The SMART-ART trainees will be highly mobile via industrial internships, research lab rotations, international exchanges and multiple conference and workshop experiences. This will improve the job readiness level of HQP in foundational knowledge, broad industry abilities, and job-specific occupational skills, and build their career paths from academia to industry and government.