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Fraunhofer magazine 1.2012
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
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Fraunhofer magazine 1.2012
Renewable energy for enhanced efficiency
Managing the transition to sustainable energy supplies is one of the greatest challenges we face in the 21st century.
3D movie thrill
Pirates of the Caribbean 4, The Three Musketeers, and Pina – these are just some of the more than 50 films that have debuted in movie theaters in 3D so far this year. The technology involved in delivering high quality in 3D is extremely complex, and this is where Fraunhofer researchers are at work on cornerstone developments and technologies.
Information and Technology
Smart rooms and buildings
A bathroom mirror that reminds you to take your medicine, sensors that raise the alarm when someone collapses in their home, and a hotel room that can be converted into a conference room at the touch of a button: These are just some of the things developed by the Fraunhofer inHaus Center, an innovative workshop for intelligent room and building systems which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Knowledge from the cloud
It is important for physicians to keep their knowledge up to date by periodically acquiring information on new methods of treatment and their patients’ medical histories. Cloud services make it easier and quicker for them to find the information they need. Fraunhofer researchers are developing secure computing systems for cloud computing which are designed to locate, analyze and provide access to relevant correlations.
Photonics
Lasers take the lead
Conserving energy is a top priority for auto manufacturers today. Laser technology can help.
Lasers can be used to process thin light-weight components made of fiber-composite materials, as well as to manufacture more efficient engines and more powerful batteries.
International
Sun quenches thirst
Two thirds of our blue planet are covered by water. Yet there is still not enough clean drinking water to go around, especially in many poor countries. To help improve this situation in the future, scientists have developed a new method that uses solar energy to desalinate seawater.
Solar electricity is a benefit for all
The future is green, with more and more countries making the switch to renewable energy. The affluent and industrialized West is
currently at the forefront of investment in solar power stations — but a recent study by the World Bank has highlighted how less developed countries can benefit from this change, too.
End of the film reel
Charlie Chaplin performs on screen today just as he did 80 years ago. If films are properly stored, they will remain in good condition for centuries. In the cinema of the 21st century, however, film reels have all but disappeared. Movies are stored, distributed and projected digitally. Preserving digital media for the future is a challenge for research scientists.
Europe
TVs with intuition
In the future you will not need to press any buttons to operate your TV or multimedia device. All you will need to do is point a finger. Research scientists are developing the necessary control technology in an EU project.
How to create complex software
Getting complex software systems ready for market can take a long time – but a new Fraunhofer solution aims to speed things up significantly. Soon companies will be able to launch high-quality software at a diminishing cost thanks to semi-automated tests and development processes.
Replacing plastic with whey
Researchers working on the EU project „Wheylayer“ have not only developed a biomaterial from whey protein — they have also come up with a commercially viable method of producing multifunctional films on an industrial scale.
Sharper
New low-noise, energy-efficient amplifiers for MRI scanners raise experts’ hopes of capturing images from inside the human body with more detail than was ever thought possible.
Food without preservatives
Éclairs and other pastries should taste light and fluffy. But, due to its high water content, éclairs dough spoils even after a short storage time. Now, researchers have devised a production system that cleans itself automatically. The equipment is a big help for the bakers.
Security
Controlled catastrophe
A factory explodes. In a life-size experiment, sensors register whether or not emergency crews can still access the building.
Counterfeit-proof chips
Every computer chip has a unique ‘fingerprint’ based on its individual physical characteristics. Researchers have now started using these chip-specific properties to achieve physical security. This method offers an effective means of protecting electronic payment cards, smart phones and electronics components against product piracy — because hacking the fingerprint is practically impossible.
Life Sciences
The RIBOLUTION
For many years, a large part of our genetic code was considered to be ‘junk DNA’. However, researchers have since discovered that these seemingly nonfunctional portions of the genome sequence actually serve as a template for ribonucleic acids, or RNAs. These ‘junk RNAs’ appear to play a role in the incidence of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Scientists are now hoping to identify new biomarkers for the diagnosis of common diseases.
Energy
Smart energy grids
Wind turbines, solar parks and combined heat and power units are gradually displacing conventional fuels. The expansion of renewable and decentralized electricity production is leading to an increase in fluctuations on the power grid. In response, experts are developing technologies for intelligent and robust power supply grids.
North Sea climate at the touch of a button
Out at sea, wind turbines are exposed to especially heavy stresses from salt, UV radiation and wave action. Now research scientists at Fraunhofer have a new test chamber that allows them for the first time to simultaneously test how the climate on the high seas and mechanical stresses damage offshore materials.
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