Press Releases

The digital networking of the world is forging ahead. This makes new business models, smart services and innovative service offerings possible. The prerequi-site for this is the secure exchange of data in the value added chain. Mean-while, the calls for German and European solutions in the fiercely competitive market for industrially compatible cloud-based solutions are becoming louder and louder. The International Data Spaces (IDS) initiative, established under the auspices of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, enables open data marketplaces for business where data can be securely exchanged between trustworthy partners. On February 22, 2019, the International Data Spaces Association presented con-crete results with experts and decision-makers from research, industry and poli-tics, gave perspectives on further developments and discussed necessary in-vestments in local data sovereignty and AI.

Cognitive systems and artificial intelligence are key technologies in value creation and will play a crucial role in deciding Germany’s future viability for technological growth. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is continuously expanding its expertise in this area, on both a cross-institute und cross-institution basis; this leading research organization has simultaneously launched two new research centers at a founding event on February 11. These centers will focus on strategic technologies of primary importance to Germany’s success as an industrial location. In addition to the official founding of the Fraunhofer Center for Cognitive Production Systems CPS at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden, Fraunhofer and the Technische Universität Dresden also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the creation of the Center for Explainable and Efficient AI Technologies CEE AI.

The new Fraunhofer Project Center for Energy Storage and Systems ZESS was inaugurated today, February 7, 2019. Located at the Automotive Research Centre Niedersachsen (NFF) in Braunschweig, it is a joint initiative of the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST – in close cooperation with the Technische Universität Braunschweig. The purpose of the new project center is to develop existing energy storage systems, both mobile and stationary, to the level of industrial maturity, and to demonstrate new solutions at a level of technological maturity of four to six.

In the future, cars will exchange data via radio and warn each other about obstacles and accidents. There are currently various radio standards in existence to allow this. However, it is almost impossible to compare them, because the requisite hardware is not yet on the market. To address this lack, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI have developed a software system that will enable users to analyze the future wireless technology. For manufacturers, this is an ideal solution for testing interesting radio applications at an early stage.

Invented stories, distorted facts: fake news is spreading like wildfire on the internet and is often shared on without thought, particularly on social media. In response, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a system that automatically analyzes social media posts, deliberately filtering out fake news and disinformation. To do this, the tool analyzes both content and metadata, classifying it using machine learning techniques and drawing on user interaction to optimize the results as it goes.

Making electric cars lighter also involves reducing the weight of the motor. One way to do that is by constructing it from fiber-reinforced polymer materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT are working together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT to develop a new cooling concept that will enable polymers to be used as motor housing materials. And that’s not the only advantage of the new cooling concept: it also significantly increases the power density and efficiency of the motor compared to the state of the art.

Countless historical coins that differ from each other only in details are in storage at German state museums. Unlike paintings, these archaeological artifacts may not be labeled, marked or barcoded. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF developed a scanner and analysis software in collaboration with the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, which digitally capture the visual features of coins and describe them exactly in a matter of seconds. The scanning system can be used to identify and recognize coin finds.

Industrial enterprises increasingly operate across multiple locations. That has led to growing calls for connected manufacturing environments and centralized monitoring of production processes. At the Hannover Messe Preview on January 24, 2019 and Hannover Messe from April 1 to 5, Fraunhofer researchers will be collaborating with Swedish experts to show how Industrie 4.0-style networked manufacturing can even extend across borders. One of the key components in controlling and monitoring connected machines is the fast 5G mobile communications standard.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have developed an innovative technology enabling people and large industrial robots to work together in an intuitive way that feels a lot like human teamwork. Using the benefit of this technology, robots can recognize gestures, faces and postures to make this collaboration that much safer and more efficient. Fraunhofer IWU is set to present this innovation at the Hannover Messe Preview in hall 19 on January 24, 2019, and at the Hannover Messe in hall 17 at booth C24 from April 1 through 5, 2019.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a joining gun that creates a connection between metal and thermoplastic materials within seconds. This gun is of a modular design and can easily be integrated into the production process, for example by mounting on a robot arm in place of a spot welding gun. At the preview leading up to the Hanover Trade Fair on January 24, 2019 on the trade fair grounds in Hall 19, scientist Annett Klotzbach will be demonstrating the advantages of the joining gun.