Diploma in Autonomous Ground and Underground Robotics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in autonomous ground and underground robotics. 8 modules covering mobile robot platforms, perception, localisation and mapping, planning and control, underground environments, safety and testing under ISO 8373, ISO 13482 and ISO 10218-1, with ROS 2 and an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Autonomous Ground and Underground Robotics — studying from Singapore
Singapore maintains a comprehensive defence sector through the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Agency, which develops military technologies and manages procurement. Engineering work covers land systems, ammunition, command and control, and simulation. Industry partners include ST Engineering, which supplies defence and security systems globally. Engineers here work within strict security and export control frameworks, often combining systems integration with reliability and safety engineering.
Fees for Singapore: S$2,560 (Singapore dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Singapore
Typical roles
Questions from Singapore
How does defence engineering work in Singapore, and which bodies oversee it?
Singapore's defence engineering is largely centred on the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and DSTA, the defence procurement and development agency, along with the Singapore Armed Forces. Engineers may register with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB). SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and not accredited by any national body, so recognition for defence roles depends on the employer or relevant authority.
Who employs defence and land systems engineers in Singapore?
Main employers include MINDEF, DSTA, the SAF, and defence industry companies including ST Engineering. Access to many roles requires security clearance and citizenship or residency rules, so check eligibility early. Employers focus on proven competence and clearance status. Your final project can illustrate technical capability, but it does not replace these requirements.
Is the course manageable alongside a job, and can employers fund it?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan for a heavy workload: 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 for a specialist course. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which is common in defence-linked organisations, though approval is up to them.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the architecture of autonomous ground robots.
Design locomotion platforms for difficult terrain.
Implement perception, localisation and trajectory planning.
Solve the communication and navigation challenges of underground environments.
Apply safety and explosive atmosphere standards.
Evaluate performance using standardised test methods.
Develop autonomous systems for exploration and inspection.
Who it's for
- Mobile robotics engineers.
- Autonomous systems engineers.
- Underground robotics specialists.
- Perception engineers.
- Functional safety engineers.
- Wireless communications engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into mining.
What you'll work with
- ISO 8373 (robotics vocabulary)
- ISO 13482 (personal care robots, safety requirements)
- ISO 10218-1 (safety of industrial robots)
- ASTM E2826 (mobility testing of response robots)
- Directive 2014/34/EU ATEX (potentially explosive atmospheres)
- IEEE 1873-2015 (map representation for robot navigation)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety)
- ROS 2
- Gazebo
- NVIDIA Isaac Sim
- Nav2
- CloudCompare
8 modules
1.1Autonomous robot architectures1.2Wheels, tracks and legs1.3Platform kinematics1.4Electric propulsion systems1.5Batteries and endurance1.6On-board sensors1.7Embedded computing1.8ROS 2 as a platform1.9Applications in mining and rescue1.10Case study: platform selection for a tunnel
2.13D lidar2.2Stereo and thermal cameras2.3Radar in dusty environments2.4Point cloud segmentation2.5Obstacle detection2.6Terrain classification2.7Person detection2.8Sensor fusion2.9Calibration2.10Lab: point cloud segmentation
3.1Wheel and inertial odometry3.2Lidar SLAM3.33D tunnel maps3.4GNSS-denied localisation3.5Loop closure in galleries3.6Multi-robot maps3.7Large map management3.8Representation according to IEEE 18733.9Errors and drift3.10Practical: gallery mapping in simulation
4.1Global planning4.2Local planning4.3Navigation with Nav24.4Planning on 3D terrain4.5Trajectory control4.6Autonomous exploration4.7Coverage planning4.8Dynamic obstacle avoidance4.9Recovery from blockages4.10Lab: autonomous navigation with Nav2
5.1Characteristics of mines and tunnels5.2Underground wireless communications5.3Deployable relay nodes5.4Autonomy with intermittent communications5.5Dust, water and mud5.6Gases and explosive atmospheres5.7ATEX certification5.8Lessons from international competitions5.9Multi-robot operation5.10Case study: communications network in a mine
6.1IEC 61508 functional safety6.2Safety in the presence of people6.3ISO robot standards6.4ASTM test methods6.5Mobility tests6.6Autonomy tests6.7Simulation for validation6.8Data logging6.9Failure analysis6.10Practical: mobility test over standard obstacles
7.1Mine inspection7.2Search and rescue7.3Inspection of tunnels and infrastructure7.4Cave exploration7.5Underground logistics7.6Assisted teleoperation7.7Operator interface7.8Legal and ethical aspects7.9Technology trends7.10Workshop: concept for an underground inspection mission
8.1Mission definition8.2Platform selection8.3Sensor architecture8.4Localisation system8.5Planning and control8.6Communications8.7Test plan8.8Evaluation of results8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS 2, Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Nav2 and CloudCompare, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: autonomous navigation in a simulated tunnel, a mobility test over standard obstacles and the design of an underground communications network. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 8373, ISO 13482, ISO 10218-1, ASTM E2826, Directive 2014/34/EU ATEX, IEEE 1873-2015, IEC 61508.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ROS 2, Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Nav2 and CloudCompare, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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