The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonics Microsystems (IPMS) is involved in an interdisciplinary research project called 'InSeKT' (Development of Intelligent Sensor Edge Technologies). This project, carried out by the Technical University of Wildau, the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics (IHP), and the Fraunhofer IPMS, aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively at the 'edges' of IT networks. The project focuses on miniaturized sensor structures and the integration of electronic components, with the goal of enabling complex calculations directly at the data source, such as at the sensor itself.

Current data processing with AI often occurs through central cloud computing solutions, leading to data transfer over large distances and potential data leaks. The project addresses this by promoting decentralized data processing for improved data security and real-time system capabilities.

The project covers various areas, including gas analysis using ion mobility spectrometers (IMS), data-supported evaluation of photodetectors for the near-infrared wavelength range, and the adapted use of capacitive microelectromechanical ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) for improved imaging. The generated data will be used to train Edge-KI systems for fast and accurate data processing.

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) is making it easier to find information in extensive documents by using large language models (LLMs) and a retrieval system. This method ensures precise and comprehensive information retrieval, which is particularly useful for legal texts and user manuals. The Fraunhofer IWU is developing this technology, which can be used on standard PCs and in the cloud, ensuring data security and privacy.