Shape-memory alloys

A dashboard tray that appears and disappears at the wave of a hand

Research News /

Storage trays in cars can be real dustbowls. But they also fulfill a useful function. Where else to store those sunglasses, paper handkerchiefs or a parking disc? A new type of storage tray, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, is concealed in the dashboard and only materializes when needed – a particularly useful feature for car-share vehicles.