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July 24
- Charging Electric Vehicles in Grid-Friendly Swarm - TH Köln Successfully Tests Coordinated Charging Control System
➀ Researchers at TH Köln developed a swarm-based algorithm to coordinate EV charging, preventing grid overload by utilizing existing infrastructure and real-time grid data.
➁ The system autonomously manages charging stations without central control, optimizing grid capacity while respecting user-defined charging preferences and voltage limits.
➂ Funded by EU and regional grants, the GridMaximizer project plans to expand with energy management for heat pumps and real-world testing with grid operators.
July 23
- Exploiting a fraction of low-risk deposits could mitigate EU’s rare earth elements supply risk
➀ The EU-funded REEsilience project highlights that tapping into low ESG-risk rare earth deposits (e.g., in Scandinavia and Canada) could reduce Europe’s reliance on Chinese imports for critical green technologies;
➁ REEs, vital for electric vehicles and wind turbines, face supply chain vulnerabilities due to geopolitical and environmental risks in current mining regions;
➂ The project’s system dynamics model shows resilience measures like recycling and diversified sourcing can stabilize prices and secure long-term supply.
- Developing a Portion of Low-Risk Rare Earth Deposits Can Mitigate EU Supply Risks
➀ The EU-funded REEsilience project highlights that tapping into low-ESG-risk rare earth deposits (e.g., in Norway, Sweden, and Greenland) can reduce Europe’s reliance on Chinese imports and secure critical materials for green technologies;
➁ Analysis of 149 global rare earth deposits identifies regions with minimal environmental, social, and governance risks, emphasizing opportunities in Scandinavia and partnerships with Canada/Australia;
➂ A system dynamics model predicts supply chain disruptions but shows resilience strategies (recycling, extended product life) can stabilize prices and ensure long-term sustainability.
- Easily and safely operating navigation, telephony, and more while riding a motorcycle
➀ TH Köln and brehmergroup are developing an AI-based gesture control system with haptic feedback integrated into motorcycle grips, aiming to minimize safety risks from manual device operation;
➁ The system detects gestures (e.g., tapping, swiping) via grip sensors to control functions like call acceptance and turn signals while keeping hands on the handlebars;
➂ The project builds on patented heated grip technology, with potential applications in e-bikes and scooters, supported by €220,000 in government funding until 2026.
- Strong Alliance for Advanced Chip Design Solutions
➀ Partnership between Fraunhofer EMFT and OTH Regensburg, led by Prof. Rainer Holmer, focuses on advancing chip testing and design technologies.
➁ Collaboration aims to optimize automated test processes for automotive and medical applications, enhancing efficiency in mass production.
➂ Integrates with the APECS pilot line for 3D heterogenous systems, strengthening Bavaria's semiconductor industry and European value chains.
- In Direct Exchange with Fellow Students and Lecturers
➀ The Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule offers an online evening study program combining flexibility, group interaction, and immediate feedback for working professionals;
➁ Students join weekly online lectures in fixed groups of up to 30, fostering collaboration and peer support in fields like IT, engineering, and business;
➂ Programs include degrees in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering, with applications for the 2025/26 winter semester due by September 15, 2025.
July 22
- Robot Soccer: Boosted HTWK Robots Are World Champions!
➀ HTWK Leipzig's Boosted Robots team won the RoboCup 2025 Humanoid League – Kid Size world championship with an 11:0 victory over China's TH-MOS;
➁ The team utilized new Booster K1 humanoid robots from Booster Robotics, enhancing computing power and AI capabilities for the competition;
➂ HTWK's innovative software adaptation and collaboration with Booster Robotics highlight advancements in AI and robotics, reinforcing the university's leadership in applied research.
- Robot Soccer: Boosted HTWK Robots are World Champions!
➀ The Boosted HTWK Robots team from HTWK Leipzig won the 2025 RoboCup in Salvador, Brazil, defeating China's TH-MOS 11-0 in the Humanoid League final;
➁ The team utilized new Booster Robotics humanoid robots, enhancing computational power, sensors, and AI programming for navigation and gameplay;
➂ The victory underscores HTWK Leipzig's leadership in AI and robotics, aligning with RoboCup's 2050 goal of robots outperforming human soccer champions.
- Düsseldorf Regional Council and Fraunhofer IOSB Survey Ruhr in Essen with Autonomous Water Drone
➀ The Düsseldorf Regional Council and Fraunhofer IOSB conducted a pioneering project using an autonomous water drone to survey a 6 km stretch of the Ruhr River, capturing high-resolution data from both deep and shallow areas for the first time.
➁ The drone, equipped with sonar and optical sensors, mapped underwater terrains and obstructions with unprecedented precision while minimizing ecological impact by avoiding manual entry into sensitive zones.
➂ Fraunhofer IOSB aims to collaborate with industry partners to scale the technology for broader applications in water management and flood prediction, following successful real-world testing.
- Flash-freezing silicon mimics Big Bang: New ideas for manufacturing defect-free layers of semiconductor materials
➀ Researchers discovered that flash-freezing silicon surfaces influences crystal structure based on cooling speeds, with faster cooling leading to one-dimensional chains and slower cooling forming larger two-dimensional honeycomb domains;
➁ Using the anisotropic Ising model and experiments, the team analyzed silicon dimer arrangements, revealing alignment with simulations and high-resolution microscopy data;
➂ The findings parallel the Kibble-Zurek mechanism from cosmology, suggesting universal phase transition behaviors applicable to both semiconductor manufacturing and early universe dynamics.
- Shock Freezing of Silicon Mimics the Big Bang: New Insights for Defect-Free Semiconductor Layer Manufacturing
➀ An international research team studied shock-cooled silicon surfaces, revealing that cooling speed critically impacts silicon's crystalline structure, with faster cooling leading to 1D atomic chains and slower cooling forming 2D honeycomb-like domains;
➁ The anisotropic Ising model aligned with experimental data, demonstrating similarities to the Kibble-Zurek mechanism, which explains topological defect formation during rapid phase transitions, like those in the early universe;
➂ Findings offer insights for defect-free semiconductor manufacturing and suggest the Kibble-Zurek mechanism applies broadly, even in materials science contexts.
July 21
- Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University Robotics Team Wins World Championship Title at RoboCup in Brazil
➀ The Robotics Team from Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg secured the world championship in the industrial robotics category (@work) at the 2025 RoboCup in Brazil, marking their third title and setting a new record of 9,551 points for the highest score ever achieved by a working robot team;
➁ The team utilized a KUKA youBot robot for autonomous navigation, object recognition, and precision tasks, showcasing advanced AI and autonomous systems capabilities;
➂ The university’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems (A2S) highlights its longstanding focus on cutting-edge robotics research, with applications spanning logistics, healthcare, and agile manufacturing.
- Pursue a Master of Engineering Part-Time: Learn More Now!
➀ The Hochschule Kaiserslautern, in collaboration with zfh, offers part-time Master's programs in Electrical Engineering and Process Engineering, designed for working professionals seeking advanced technical qualifications and leadership roles;
➁ The flexible program combines online learning, self-study, and in-person sessions, with applications open until August 15, 2025, for the 2025/26 winter semester;
➂ Graduates gain career opportunities in high-demand fields such as automation, Industry 4.0, chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries.
- Autonomous AI agents in healthcare: Dresden researchers on regulatory solution for safe implementation of AI in medicine
➀ Autonomous AI agents in healthcare are advancing beyond traditional applications, but existing regulatory frameworks in the US and Europe are insufficient for their complexity and adaptability;
➁ Researchers propose adaptive regulatory pathways, including enforcement discretion policies, voluntary alternative approval pathways, and long-term solutions akin to medical professional qualification, to ensure safety and innovation;
➂ Collaboration among regulators, healthcare providers, and developers is critical to achieving safe and effective implementation of autonomous AI agents in clinical settings.
- Dresden Researchers Present Solutions for Safe Approval of AI in Medicine
➀ Researchers highlight the growing gap between autonomous AI agents' capabilities and existing medical device regulations in the U.S. and Europe, emphasizing patient safety concerns;
➁ Proposed solutions include short-term enforcement adjustments, voluntary alternative approval pathways (VAPs), and long-term regulatory frameworks resembling medical professional qualifications;
➂ Collaboration among regulators, healthcare providers, and developers is deemed critical to enable safe AI innovation while maintaining adaptive oversight.
July 18
- Team 'RoboPig' Wins Prize at International Automation Competition 'Robothon'
➀ Team RoboPig from the Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) secured third place at the 2025 Robothon competition in Munich, continuing its success streak since 2021;
➁ The competition challenges teams to develop robots capable of disassembling e-waste, with tasks increasing in difficulty annually—this year focusing on robots mimicking human-like logic and responsiveness;
➂ RoboPig redesigned its technical framework for broader usability and presented a phone diagnostic tool for recycling, praised by judges, as eight international teams tackled progressive challenges over several months.
July 17
- Minister Ina Brandes Inaugurates Visual Effects Lab at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences
➀ The Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt (HSHL) inaugurated its state-of-the-art Visual Effects Lab (VFX Lab) at the Lippstadt campus, spearheading virtual production education and research in Germany;
➁ Equipped with LED walls and real-time computer graphics, the lab enables practical training for film, animation, and game production, while fostering collaborations with institutions like Filmuniversität Babelsberg and SMPTE;
➂ As Germany's only public university with a professional virtual production stage, HSHL aims to host annual workshops and advance cross-disciplinary media technology projects.
July 16
- Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE Optimize Semiconductor Processes with Innovative Measurement System
➀ Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE imaging systems GmbH developed the DIVE VEpioneer® optical metrology tool, reducing semiconductor manufacturing control wafer usage by 25% and cutting CO₂ emissions by 118,000 kg/month in a 28nm production scenario;
➁ The system combines spectral imaging and AI for non-destructive wafer inspection, enabling rapid defect detection (20 seconds per wafer) across multilayer structures while saving water, chemicals, and energy;
➂ Installed at Fraunhofer's cleanroom, the solution will undergo further automation upgrades and benefit from DIVE's acquisition by PVA TePla AG to enhance industrial applicability under the Green ICT initiative.
- Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE Optimize Semiconductor Processes with Cutting-Edge Measurement System
➀ Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE developed an optical measurement system (DIVE VEpioneer®) to streamline quality control in semiconductor manufacturing, reducing control wafer usage by 25% and CO₂ emissions by 118,000 kg monthly;
➁ The system uses spectroscopy and AI for non-invasive wafer inspection, enabling faster defect detection and enhancing production efficiency;
➂ The collaboration, part of the Green ICT initiative, aims to advance sustainable semiconductor manufacturing, with further plans for automation and integration improvements.
July 15
- Electrical Engineering Day: Future Technologies in the Spotlight
➀ Students at THWS showcased innovative projects, including an AI-powered autonomous robot for weed elimination using high-voltage pulses and a wind turbine demonstrator with adjustable rotor angles for energy efficiency;
➁ A collaborative project with U.S. universities developed a passive radar system leveraging existing radio signals to detect drones cost-effectively and stealthily;
➂ The event highlighted international academic collaboration and emphasized the practical application of electrical engineering in sustainability and technology.
- TU Wien and Harvard Invent Novel Laser
➀ A compact infrared laser with tunable wavelengths, requiring no movable parts, was jointly developed by TU Wien and Harvard University;
➀ It utilizes semiconductor ring structures to enable precise wavelength selection and stable emission across a broad spectrum;
➂ Applications include medical diagnostics and gas analysis, with the technology already patented and potential for expansion into telecommunications and visible light.
- Four Wins: New Semiconductor for the Chips of the Future
➀ Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich and Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP) developed CSiGeSn, a novel four-element semiconductor alloy compatible with CMOS processes;
➁ The material enables precise tuning of electronic and photonic properties for applications in optoelectronics, quantum circuits, and thermoelectric energy conversion;
➂ Achieved using industrial-grade CVD equipment, the breakthrough paves the way for scalable integration of photonic and quantum devices in silicon-based chips.
- Lightning-Fast and Highly Reliable: Sharing Data via Photonic Integrated Circuits
➀ The PUNCH project, led by Fraunhofer IZM and IMEC, develops photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to enable ultra-fast, low-latency data transmission, targeting applications in data centers and traffic networks;
➀ PICs combine optical signaling with electronic chips using Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging, boosting network speeds from 200 Gb/s to 1.6 Tb/s while reducing energy consumption and costs;
➂ Supported by EU Horizon Europe funding, the project involves collaborations with NVIDIA, Ericsson, and the University of Cambridge and aims to finalize a scalable solution by 2026.
- Optically Integrated Circuits Enable Highly Reliable and Delay-Free Data Transmission
➀ The PUNCH project, coordinated by IMEC and led by Fraunhofer IZM, aims to develop optical switches to accelerate data networks, achieving 8x faster transmission than conventional methods for applications in data centers and traffic networks;
➁ Researchers integrate photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with electronic chips using heterogenous Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP), boosting network speeds to 1.6 Tb/s and improving scalability for mass production;
➂ The technology promises reduced latency, lower energy consumption, and guaranteed service quality, with potential use cases in automotive communication and video streaming.
July 14
- TUM Develops Robot Fitness Certification System: Establishing a Robotics Quality Label
➀ The AI Robot Safety & Performance Center at TUM MIRMI created a standardized testing system ("Tree of Robots") to evaluate robot sensitivity, safety, and performance, categorizing robots into classes like Industrial Robots and Cobots;
➁ The system uses 25 tactile metrics and radar charts to visually compare capabilities, enabling users to assess a robot’s suitability for tasks requiring precision, force, or human interaction;
➂ The framework aims to establish an industrial certification standard, supporting safer and more efficient robotic applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and mobility.
July 11
- New Insulation System for More Efficient Electric Motors
➀ HTW Dresden and partners are developing a ceramic-like aluminum oxide insulation for electric motor windings to improve efficiency, reduce weight, and save resources;
➁ The new insulation provides 10x higher thermal conductivity and withstands over 300°C, enhancing performance for applications like electric aviation;
➂ Anodization-based coating and iterative testing aim to optimize durability, with a demonstrator planned to validate material savings and recyclability.
- How Can Engineering Programs Become More Attractive to Young Talent?
➀ A workshop held in July 2025 by Bavarian institutions addressed strategies to boost enrollment and success in engineering programs, emphasizing their role in regional innovation.
➁ Declining student numbers in fields like mechanical and electrical engineering were noted, countered by initiatives such as English-taught courses and interdisciplinary programs to attract international and female students.
➂ Collaboration between schools, universities, and companies was highlighted as critical to addressing workforce gaps and enhancing academic outcomes through active learning and monitoring.
July 9
- Shape Memory Actuators and Microwave Measurements
➀ Dr. Marvin Schuleit and Dr. Marcel van Delden from Ruhr-Universität Bochum were awarded the Gebrüder-Eickhoff-Preis for their doctoral research on advanced engineering applications;
➁ Schuleit developed laser-based techniques to integrate shape-memory NiTi alloys with circuit boards, enabling reliable actuator systems for high-performance applications;
➂ van Delden improved microwave measurement systems by monolithically integrating components on a single chip using Infineon’s BiCMOS SiGe:C technology, enhancing bandwidth and stability for automotive radar and industrial use.
- Double-Sided Precision Coating Led to Victory
➀ The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST won first place in the Optical Interference Coatings Conference (OIC2025) Manufacturing Challenge by creating a spectroscopically precise optical filter that visualized a roadrunner image through dual-sided coatings;
➁ Using their proprietary high-precision EOSS® coating technology, the team achieved complex spectral requirements by controlling layer thicknesses, optical constants, and oxidation behavior on both sides of the substrate;
➂ The competition highlighted interdisciplinary collaboration in simulation, production, and measurement, reinforcing Fraunhofer IST's leadership in optical coatings for applications like lasers, sensors, and space technology.
- Victory with Double-Sided Precision Coating
➀ Fraunhofer IST won the Manufacturing Challenge at the OIC2025 conference by developing a spectroscopic optical filter with double-sided precision coating using their EOSS® system;
➁ The challenge required creating a roadrunner bird image through three spectral characteristics (front/back reflection and transmission) by precisely controlling layer thicknesses and optical properties;
➂ The achievement underscores the institute’s expertise in optical coatings, integrating simulation, manufacturing, and metrology to solve complex interdisciplinary challenges.