2024

With its new director, Fraunhofer IVI has also gained another strong partner in the German research landscape: the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. As the head of the Chair for Computational Intelligence, Prof. Sanaz Mostaghim invited representatives of the rectorate to get to know the institute and its research topics on site.

Prof. Jens Strackeljan, Rector, and Prof. Helmut Weiß, Vice Rector for Planning and Budget, visited Fraunhofer IVI and, in addition to an introduction of the institute by Prof. Mostaghim, also gained a comprehensive insight into the research priorities and current projects of the individual departments in their technical presentations. In addition, the guests visited the test track and technical center where they experienced exciting demonstrations of the innovative CERES field robot and teleoperated driving using 5G technology.

The colleagues from the University of Magdeburg, which sees itself as a university with a distinctive profile in engineering, natural sciences and medicine, were enthusiastic about the wide range of topics and the hands-on demonstrations at the Fraunhofer IVI.

Earth Observation (EO) data provides valuable information that is essential for areas such as climate research, environmental monitoring, disaster management, urban planning and agriculture. Despite its enormous potential, this data remains difficult for many users to access because it is often available in complex formats and large volumes that require specialized expertise.

The collaborative EO4EU project, which is funded by Horizon Europe for a period of three years, aims to improve the accessibility of geospatial data and to develop innovative processing and visualization tools. The EO4EU platform developed in the project offers improved user interfaces for EO services and data supported by extended reality. Numerous user groups will benefit from this, including policy makers, the research and science community, NGOs and enterprises. Fraunhofer IVI is supporting the project by developing components of the EO4EU platform and by validating the system for application scenarios in the field of disaster management.

In order to exchange information on the current state of work, 31 representatives of the EO4EU partners from across Europe met for a plenary meeting at Fraunhofer IVI. Led by project coordinator Prof. Stathes Hadjiefthymiades from the NKUA (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), the progress of the individual work packages was presented. The partners also discussed possibilities for improving and further developing the EO4EU platform and planned the next steps for the project's dissemination activities. Among other things, the Europe-wide EO4EU Innovation Award competition was presented. Participants are encouraged to develop novel applications using the EO4EU platform.

• further information about the project

In collaboration with the Artificial Intelligence Network Ingolstadt (AININ), Fraunhofer IVI’s application center “Connected Mobility and Infrastructure” invited 20 students from all over Germany to participate in the Ignaz Kögler Research Summer Camp in Ingolstadt. For one week, participants engaged intensively with the topic of "Urban Air Mobility and autonomous flying." The focus was on subjects such as AI-based environmental and situational awareness, object recognition, trajectory prediction, and intelligent trajectory planning.

The summer camp offered a unique opportunity to work on current challenges in Urban Air Mobility through interdisciplinary project and group work, experiencing the full cycle of developing an intelligent system in a condensed format. The application center “Connected Mobility and Infrastructure” provided the foundation for this with a carefully selected mix of expert lectures, offering comprehensive insights into the current state of research.

Henri Meeß, manager of the Highly Automated Flying group, who is leading various research projects on the subject, gladly shared his experiences and extensive expertise with the young researchers. His conclusion: "We are pleased that, within such a short time, we were able to impart so much knowledge about the field of autonomous flying and the development of AI-driven systems to the students. The results of the group projects are truly impressive and demonstrate what a small group of young, motivated students can achieve with the right ideas."

• More Information on the summer camp (German) 
• Fraunhofer Application Center “Connected Mobility and Infrastructure”

Cooperative driving (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, or C-ITS) – including the networking and digitalization of vehicles and infrastructure – is considered one of the essential pieces of the puzzle for realizing safe, efficient, and sustainable transport as part of the mobility transition. For the final demonstration of the C-ITS Pilot Dresden, as part of the C-ROADS Germany – Urban Nodes project, Fraunhofer IVI invited numerous high-ranking guests to present showcases on the institute's own test track as well as in public road traffic. The focus was on the cooperation between vehicles and infrastructure.

Fraunhofer IVI is the initiator and operator of the Digital Test Field Dresden and the lead partner of the C-ITS Pilot Dresden. During the demo, the C-ITS services developed and implemented at the institute were presented live, including PVD (use of vehicle data), GLOSA (traffic light phase assistant), TSP (priority for emergency vehicles and public transport at traffic signals), EVA (emergency vehicle access), and VRU (protection of vulnerable road users). The integration of these services into future automated driving assistance functions is seen as another important milestone on the path to autonomous driving. We thank the City of Dresden and the Saxon State Office for Road Construction and Transport (LASuV) for their support as the road construction authority.

• more information on research in the field of cooperation and infrastructure assistance at Fraunhofer IVI

To contribute to the safety of vulnerable road users, especially children, the IVI held another workshop this month as part of the Fraunhofer IVI Accident Prevention School (FAPS) project, in cooperation with Wildstyle Network. The workshop targeted children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years. Nora Strauzenberg, from the "Vehicle and Traffic Safety" department, welcomed the future traffic experts at the Chinese Pavilion. Here, the dangers for pedestrians and cyclists around the Weißen Hirsch and Bühlau areas were interactively demonstrated. The focus was laid on accident hotspots near schools and residential areas. These scenarios were recreated digitally, allowing students to experience the perspectives of the involved road users through VR headsets. This approach not only provided a better understanding of potential dangers but also increased their motivation to learn more the topic.

• More information on FAPS.

Under the motto "Future. Bringing it together!", the innovation network simul+ unites actors from business, science and administration to find solutions to the challenges of our time. At the 9^th Future Forum (Zukunftsforum), network partners and guests met in the town of Radebeul to present innovative projects, engage in exchange, and collectively look into the future of regional development of Saxony.

Institute director Prof. Dr. Matthias Klingner and project manager Ernst-Eckart Schulze of Fraunhofer IVI took the opportunity to reflect on the implemented model projects AMSEL and Telewerk, which were funded by the Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development (SMR) as part of the simul+ InnovationHub. The now completed experimental buildings in the small town of Mittweida impressively demonstrate what living and working in rural areas could look like in the future: AMSEL, the tiny house with a smart living approach, was combined with Telewerk, a living lab with workplaces, in a joint energy self-sufficient settlement.

In the interview, Matthias Klingner particularly emphasized the good cooperation between the Mittweida University of Applied Sciences and the trades, as well as the ongoing discussions about potential utilization concepts.

With the implementation of this innovative idea, it has been shown how living and working of tomorrow can be realized in a resource-efficient way. Furthermore, an exemplary case of Saxon collaboration was created. Here, science, business, trades and administration worked together successfully and were now able to present their joint results.

Further information:

• Video: »Telewerk und AMSEL: Das Leben und Arbeiten von morgen auf 173m²« (Youtube; Copyright: SMR/significant.pictures)
• Simul+ InnovationHub 
• Research in the field of self-sufficient utility systems at Fraunhofer IVI

More than 35 post-docs and experienced researchers, including participants from Nigeria, India, Turkey, Brazil, and Japan, visited Fraunhofer IVI as part of a study trip to Dresden. All of them are scholarship holders of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which promotes outstanding researchers from around the world.

The group received a comprehensive insight into the institute's current research practices. After the welcome by Dr. Frank Steinert, head of the Vehicle Systems department, colleagues presented their respective departments, current research focuses and technologies.

Although most of the participants conduct research in disciplines less represented at Fraunhofer IVI, the presentations sparked great interest. The participants actively engaged in the subsequent discussion rounds, with a particular focus on activities in the field of vehicle and traffic safety. "The protection of vulnerable road users is of central importance to our society. These topics hold great potential. Dresden's old town is a beautiful example of this," said William Green, a scientist in the field of architecture and lighting engineering from the USA.

The event is part of a series of study trips taking place in August 2024 on behalf of the German government and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The goal is to introduce participants to Germany's cultural, political, economic, and social diversity and to promote international exchange in the spirit of Alexander von Humboldt.

Upon invitation of State Minister Thomas Schmidt, government representatives of the construction departments of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bayern, Sachsen-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Sachsen met in the small city of Mittweida.

Following the event, the Mittweida University of Applied Sciences and Fraunhofer IVI had the opportunity to give further insights into their research projects Telewerk and AMSEL. Both projects have been realized in recent months. They are part of an experimental platform for energy-conscious living in rural areas and have been supported as model projects within the simul⁺ InnovationHub with funding by the Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development (SMR). 

Further information:

• Simul+ InnovationHub 
• Research in the field of self-sufficient utility systems at Fraunhofer IVI

Around 70 representatives from companies, research institutions, and authorities met at the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI). The UAM Initiative Ingolstadt aims to bring together different stakeholders to generate a new and forward-looking form of airbound mobility in the lower airspace.

The network meeting offered fascinating insights into the latest research topics in Urban Air Mobility and featured practical outdoor demonstrations. The Fraunhofer flagship project ALBACOPTER^®, including six sub-projects, was the highlight of the event. Following an exciting introductory lecture by Prof. Matthias Klingner, project manager and director of Fraunhofer IVI, interested participants had the opportunity to visit the developed demonstrators at the technology café in the afternoon – including the ALBACOPTER^® 0.5 with a wingspan of 7 meters. The project team was particularly pleased with the opportunity to present the project results to such a wide circle of professionals and to receive new impulses for further project work.

 “United by Science“ – that was the theme for this year’s Dresden Science Night. Numerous educational and research institutions opened their doors, offering interactive experiences to bring research closer to interested visitors.

 Fraunhofer IVI showcased various current research projects, allowing over 600 guests to get a look behind the scenes of the institute – partly in virtual space, but also up close on the in-house test track. Visitors of all ages could get a glimpse into the future of urban air mobility and marvel at the ALBACOPTER^® through VR headsets. The FAPS and PAPS-XR project booth also used virtual reality to have the visitors safely experience dangerous traffic situations from various perspectives.

Real-world presentations, including the possibility to ride along in a 5G-remote-controlled car or an automated truck, equally sparked the crowd’s excitement. While adult visitors could gain fascinating insights from short lectures on topics such as fuel cells and AI in the construction industry, the youngest researchers had plenty to discover at the crafting station and play interactive games.

We sincerely thank all visitors for their great interest in our institute and the many engaging conversations. We look forward to the next Science Night already!

Extreme weather events such as heat, cold snaps, droughts, and heavy rainfall are increasing due to climate change. Significant crop losses are posing ever greater challenges for farmers.

 With the help of digital technologies, processes in crop cultivation and animal husbandry can be better monitored, controlled, and further optimized. Within this scope, the project partners presented the successful completion of the "LANDNETZ" project at the regional conference "Digital Applications for Agricultural Practice" in Dresden-Pillnitz.

The five-year joint research effort by TU Dresden, Fraunhofer IVI, and the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture, and Geology focused on the implementation of digital technologies to optimize agricultural processes. To make these processes more efficient and resource-conserving, various approaches to utilize 5G and further communication infrastructures were explored in a model region north of Dresden.

The integration of 5G-based technologies enabled the advancement of processes such as precision farming, autonomous driving of agricultural machinery, and connected mobility. By using drones, autonomous robots, and innovative sensor technologies, practical solutions were developed to support more efficient and sustainable agriculture. "With increasing levels of autonomy, the safety requirements for highly automated agricultural technology also rise. The communication network of machines among themselves, with a monitoring dispatcher, or with vehicles in road traffic via 5G mobile communication meets these requirements," explains Prof.  Matthias Klingner, director of Fraunhofer IVI. In the 5G-equipped model region, typical use cases, such as the encounter of a large agricultural machine with a car or a motorcyclist, were designed and tested.

•  learn more in the LfULG press release (german)

Fraunhofer IVI invited the LAURIN project partners to a consortium meeting at the institute. Dr. Jörg Holfeld welcomed the participating companies DEKRA Automobil GmbH, iMAR Navigation GmbH, Smart Mobile Labs AG and TraceTronic GmbH to look back at the accomplishments that have been achieved so far after two-thirds of the project time. Now approaching the finish line, the partners scheduled their next steps with unstinting motivation.

This process remains exciting, as automated driving features will be tested in even more complex scenarios within the project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). To do so, the Lausitzring racetrack was transformed into a test field for highly automated and networked vehicles. Their driving behavior is put to the test in realistic and complex traffic scenarios, aiming to ensure a safe future driving experience on public roads. 

Building up large scale monitoring grids with the help of inexpensive air quality sensors, generating and closely analyzing data of the transport sector in context with meteorological data – These methods constituted the approach of the DEUS_Smart Air project. To achieve this, data from almost 100 mobile and 50 stationary sensors installed in the towns of Teltow and Halberstadt was visualized in a dashboard. Fraunhofer IVI contributed their expertise in the fields of data screening, modeling and prognosis. On April 22, the project participants presented their results at the hybrid event.

Analyses showed that data, collected by air quality sensors, can be used to complement official measurements, if quality assurance, realized through frequent calibrations as well as reference comparisons with other stations, is ensured. Furthermore, multiple factors such as casing, ventilation, height and distance to the emission sources have to be taken into account in order to create representative data.

The project was funded within the innovation initiative mFUND by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport BMDV. Under the coordination Füllner & Partner GmbH, a total of 12 partners had worked together in the project over three and a half years. 

After almost five years of research, the project partners and the advisory board came together once again for a final event and project advisory board meeting. Various presentations and demonstrations took them on a journey through the project´s highlights and gave a glimpse into the future.

“SteigtUm” started in Dezember 2019 and was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the goal of transforming the city of Freiberg into a living lab, overcoming the challenges of urban mobility. The project focused on the development of small electric vehicles, suitable for everyday use. Combined with an autonomous rental and charging infrastructure with a universal user interface, those vehicles can become a great public benefit. This way, problems caused by the increasing urbanization, such as pollution and bad parking situations, can be solved with the help of cost-effective and user-friendly alternatives. The project will now be successfully completed in May 2024.

As the project coordinator, the Institute of Electrical Engineering of TU Freiberg welcomed all participants within its own premises to celebrate the successful completion. Among them were scientists from TU Freiberg, TU Chemnitz, TU Braunschweig, Projektionisten GmbH from Hannover, apromace data systems GmbH from Freiberg and Fraunhofer IVI.

Prof. Ralph Bartholomäus, Uwe Schneider and Ernst-Eckart Schulze presented two solutions developed and designed at the IVI. With “CityTrunk”, an electric cargo trailer was introduced that is able to increase transport capacities for commercial users, while avoiding problems conventional transportation vehicles face within urban areas. In addition, the “CityBox”, an automatic rental and charging station for the “CityBike” developed by TU Freiberg was created to further optimize micromobility within the city. 

After three years of research, Fraunhofer IVI and TU Dresden successfully completed their project “KIWA: artificial intelligence for flood warning”. The project partners met in Dresden to look back at their achievements and discuss the future of the new technology.

The project was opened by Fraunhofer IVI Director Prof. Dr. Matthias Klingner together with the project manager Prof. Dr. Niels Schütze from TU Dresden and Anna Guerrero Lara from the project sponsor VDI Technologiezentrum. The opening was followed by exciting presentations on the different application areas of AI within water monitoring, and a discussion moderated by project coordinator Jens Grundmann.

On-site live demonstrations made the pioneering technology tangible for the participants. The MOBITKAT^®-system, developed at Fraunhofer IVI, had a guest appearance, demonstrating how the new methods can be implemented in established systems.

The event was rounded off with workshops focusing on user needs in the fields of disaster protection, water defense, flood control and environmental monitoring, as well as keynote speeches on future application areas.

The project started in April 2021 and was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the goal of creating AI tools to assist flood warning and monitoring. The artificial intelligence is now able to improve precipitation-runoff simulations, automatically detect water levels from camera images and derive the flow volumes of river systems from them.

Once again, committed researchers had the opportunity to present their projects at the Fraunhofer Headquarters in Munich at the final event of the exclusive continuing education program to become a “Fraunhofer Research Manager”. The program aims to professionalize research management within strategic areas of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. With this year’s topic “business model innovation”, six teams of colleagues from various institutes developed innovative solutions for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient economy.

We are particularly pleased to celebrate our new Research Manager Henri Meeß, group manager “Highly Automated Flying” at the Fraunhofer Application Center “Connected Mobility and Infrastructure” in Ingolstadt. In cooperation with colleagues from Fraunhofer IML and Fraunhofer IIS, he worked on the homogenization of Fraunhofer -wide data, a process much needed to develop AI systems. This contribution helps to easier fulfill future industrial requirements through a more effective utilization of datasets.

Impressed by the participants’ presentations, Fraunhofer President Prof. Dr. Holger Hanselka congratulated the new generation of Research Managers, stating that the program´s aims were met successfully. New employees were able to achieve results that make a direct contribution to ongoing research, by exchanging experiences and transferring ideas into applications. In addition, they improved their own competencies in entrepreneurial and cross-institutional collaboration and will now be giving change-inducing impulses themselves within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

We congratulate all graduates and wish them all the best for their future carriers. 

On March 14, Fraunhofer IVI participated in the final presentation of the SAFE20 project, funded by the BMWK (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) and thereby had the chance to demonstrate the strengths of their software framework helyOS^®, which is used for building control tower systems.

The eight consortium partners presented a realistic test operation including three autonomous logistics vehicles on the Dachser depot in Langenau, Baden-Württemberg. Those vehicles are able to integrate themselves smoothly into a mixed operation of manually controlled vehicles and walking staff.

Thanks to helyOS^®, the three test vehicles were successfully connected and it was possible to connect new planning services in order to create a reliable and optimally coordinated organization of all driving tasks.

The goal of this project was the development and first realization of a holistic safety concept, which, as the first of its kind, can allow driving speeds of autonomous vehicles of over 20 km/h on depots, while cooperating with conventional vehicles. This safety concept is a basic requirement for future regular operation und economic success of autonomous commercial vehicles. Driving speeds have so far been limited to only 8 km/h, which is too low to be considered productive. The SAFE20 developments could provide a solution for the ongoing lack of drivers.

The project, initiated in October of 2020, can now be considered completed successfully, thanks to the great cooperation with the technology group ZF as the consortium leader, as well as the companies Dachser, Götting KG, TII KAMAG, Sensor-Technik Wiedemann GmbH, SICK AG and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML.

read the Press release (in German) 

Exactly one year after its launch, the ”DesignLab for Applied Research“ – a cooperation between Fraunhofer and TU Dresden – had the opportunity to engage in an interesting dialogue with visitors from society, economy, industry and politics at the ”SPIN2030 Science Festival“. For this event, more than 50 scientific institutions from all over Saxony took over the five-storey building of the Museum of Science and Technology Dresden with the aim of making science tangible. The science festival is a part of the campaign ”SPIN 2030. Science State Saxony“, organized by the Saxon Ministry of Science, with the goal of highlighting the diversity, excellence, and attractiveness of Saxony as a research location.

The project team presented concepts and current developments in tomorrow´s agriculture, mobility and architecture and showed potentials of the integration of industrial designers in research projects.

Especially the vivid presentation of the projects Feldschwarm^® and ALBACOPTER^® sparked excitement and interest across all age groups and encouraged lively discussions about future solutions in automation on land and under water. 

From January 30th to February 1st, the project MOBILITIES FOR EU kicked off to a great start. 29 partners from nine European countries are collaborating to create innovative mobility concepts within the next five years. This will help to achieve the European Green Deal aims for 2030.

The EU-funded project will pursue a holistic and user-centered approach to successfully create climate-neutral and smart cities. Therefore, passenger mobility and freight transport concepts will be implemented using cost-effective and feasible solutions. Dresden and Madrid will act as lead cities and get the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of 27 innovative mobility solutions. These will be realized in eleven pilot projects, including vehicles as well as overarching infrastructure. Electrification, automation, and connectivity will be central topics of the project.

Fraunhofer IVI will provide assistance in the fields of C-ITS, Mobility Data Space and infrastructure assistance for CCAM. Moris Zahtila represented the departments of “Cognitive and Cooperating Systems” and “Mobility and Digital Services” at the kick-off in Madrid. 

Within IN²Lab, a project with a duration of 3.5 years, the »First Mile« test field was established at Lake Auwaldsee in Ingolstadt, and a security system for automated driving functions was developed. The final event on January 24 in Ingolstadt clearly highlighted that the test field has enriched the mobility region with an open, urban development, and demonstration platform for 5G-based mobility applications.

Under the coordination of THI, project partners Fraunhofer IVI (with its application center in Ingolstadt), Audi, Blickfeld, and Continental developed essential components of the security system. These include infrastructure-side sensors for environmental perception, Car2X communication for the interconnection of vehicles and infrastructure, as well as a Mission Control backend for monitoring and control. Fraunhofer IVI, in collaboration with THI, is a key partner in the test field and has significantly contributed to its conception, architecture, and specification. Additionally, the institute supports the expansion of the test field with further Roadside Units in the 5GoIng project, as well as its evolution into an open innovation lab.

IN²Lab was funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy as part of the Bayern Digital II initiative.

• read the THI press release (in German)
• more information on the IN²Lab project