Research highlights from Fraunhofer IIS/EAS

ThermOBS

Online monitoring for fail-safe automotive electronics

An autonomous, computer-driven vehicle is directly and immediately dependent on the proper functioning of its electronic systems: in the absence of a human driver, the reliability of electronic components is paramount.

Online monitoring, a process whereby the system automatically keeps tabs on critical components during operation, enables reliable early detection of physical defects, automatically flagging up the first signs of an imminent malfunction. This allows countermeasures to be initiated in time to ensure that the vehicle can continue to operate safely.

VERITAS

Fail-safe, agile collaborative overall systems for digitized production

The VERITAS project lays the foundations for optimized design and operation of autonomous, selforganizing and dynamically cooperating smart machines for digital production.

A central management system to control IoT devices enables a high degree of flexibility and versatility in production. But this approach also makes devices heavily dependent on the availability and reliability of network connections. For mobile IoT devices in particular, wireless connections in the final meters to the machine present a major challenge.

Therefore, in order to still reap the full benefits of agile collaborative systems, the project needs to extend the self-organization and collaboration of the IoT devices. In addition, the resilience of the distributed application to temporary networking limitations and failures must be increased.

corona.KEX.net

Early-detection and prediction system for the medical sector

Extraordinary medical emergencies brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to shortages of much-needed medical supplies – a situation made even worse by worldwide trade restrictions and long delivery times for medical equipment.

To avoid such scenarios in the future, we are supporting a project team led by KEX Knowledge Exchange AG that is developing an early-detection and prediction system for the medical sector. The aim is to identify supply bottlenecks early on so suppliers, distribution points and medical facilities can take countermeasures in good time. This should ensure the sustainable, cost-effective supply of necessary items and, overall, make supply chains resilient to market fluctuations.

VE-VIDES

Concept for the design of trusted electronics

For electronic components to be trustworthy in every respect, they must on the one hand be safe from manipulation and know-how theft. On the other hand, it is also important to be able to concretely trace and verify the original specifications after manufacturing.

New, improved design methods are needed to ensure that these specifications can be implemented also in the complex, international value chains of electronics manufacturing. This is where the VEVIDES research project comes in, with twelve partners from research and industry working together on a holistic concept for designing trustworthy electronics. Fraunhofer IIS/EAS is researching methods for checking the trustworthiness of hardware as well as an improved electronics development process in the automotive sector.

iRel 4.0

Reliability as a central component of electronics "Made in Europe"

The iRel40 project brings together the expertise of 75 European partners from the worlds of science and industry. All of these partners are keen to help establish a high level of reliability as a key feature of European-made electronics.

As part of the project, the Engineering of Adaptive Systems EAS Division of Fraunhofer IIS is developing practical approaches that allow the reliability of integrated circuits and entire electronic systems to be evaluated using simulations. After all, future development teams will face an even greater need to design electronic parts and components that offer exceptional robustness and durability without being “overdesigned”.

MoNeQua

Application center for the »Design of scalable electronic systems for quantum communication«

Secure and private communication over large distances is one of the most important prerequisites for further digitalization in industry, banking, public infrastructure and government institutions. Ever increasing volumes of sensitive data make it absolutely necessary to have reliable and protected channels for information exchange.

Quantum communication will be an important step in this direction. By means of the secure exchange of a key of any length between transmitter and receiver, it enables the transmission of information that cannot be cracked without breaking the laws of physics. The technology can help secure data exchange between partners when there are high requirements for data protection or confidentiality.