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| New Center for Central and Eastern Europe |
10 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Europe needs to gather its forces in a united effort to face up to global competition. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is bringing together science and industry in East and West with its newly founded Center for Central and Eastern Europe, MOEZ. |
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| Filters made of metal |
09 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Microfilters soon clog up and require elaborate cleaning. A new filter made of a metal fabric simply shakes off the offending deposits. It has an evenly sized pore structure of a defined granularity and is more durable than existing products. |
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| New flame retardant provides effective shield |
08 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
It’s all a question of the right recipe, in chemistry as in breadbaking: the finished result should be crusty, but not burnt. In the next generation of chemical flame retardants, nanoparticles incorporated in paint will ensure that a crust forms to protect the underlying surface. |
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| Diamonds off the conveyor belt |
07 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Precious stones are hard to see when they are extracted from the mine: They are hidden among masses of bedrock. A new sorting plant retrieves the precious diamonds and even detects the particularly valuable pure white and green gems. |
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| Turbulent fibers |
06 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
From car interiors to diapers, non-woven tissues are used every-where. Manufacturers are aiming to produce increasingly hard-wearing non-woven tissues from as little plastic as possible. A simulation model has been designed to help optimize the process. |
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| Energy from ceramics |
05 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Micro fuel cells are already being acclaimed as an alternative to batteries. However, producing them from hundreds of tiny separate parts is complex and expensive. An alternative is now available: ceramic fuel cells that can be manufactured in one piece. |
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| Cinema sound at home and away |
04 September 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The sound emerging from home cinemas and digital radios will soon be almost as good as that of a movie theater. At the international consumer electronics exhibition IFA in Berlin, Fraunhofer researchers presented the technology that makes it possible. |
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| ARC and Government of Canada launch Biofuels Analysis Incentive Program
Version Français |
02 July 2006 - Alberta Research Council
In support of the Government of Canada's Biodiesel Initiative, the Alberta Research Council Inc. has teamed up with Natural Resources Canada to create an on-line Biofuels Quality Registry. |
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| New multi-tenant facility to provide growing biotech companies with flexible lab space |
01 July 2006 - Alberta Research Council
Young, growing biotechnology companies in Greater Edmonton and Alberta will soon have a new 72,000-square-foot 'wet lab' facility at Edmonton Research Park to help them unleash their innovative and commercial potential. |
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| Projects unleash innovation in energy, bioproducts and fire protection |
30 June 2006 - Alberta Research Council
Edmonton...Building better solar panels and increasing energy efficiency on Alberta farms are just two of the projects funded under the latest round of the province's innovation program. |
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| CV Technologies grows business with Alberta Research Council expertise |
29 June 2006 - Alberta Research Council
An Alberta Research Council business unit, NuRx Services, is supporting the research and development needs of one of Canada's fastest growing biotech companies. |
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| ARC releases five new varieties of native grasses and one native legume |
28 June 2006 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council today released six new varieties of native plant species suitable for reclaiming industrial disturbances in Alberta's Parkland region. These grasses and legume have demonstrated superior performance in the sandy soils common to that ecoregion. |
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| Better water treatment, better water |
27 June 2006 - Alberta Research Council
A new ultraviolet analyzer developed by the Alberta Research Council and being taken to market by Galvanic Applied Sciences Inc. will make water treatment more accurate and respond to the industry's need for quality measurements to improve water quality at reduced costs. |
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| Internet wireless sensor to beef up cattle health |
26 June 2006 - Alberta Research Council
Increased production, profitability and effectiveness for ranchers, veterinarians and feedlot operators will soon be possible through new a wireless internet sensor technology being developed in Edmonton. |
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| Microspectrometers: small but wow! |
28 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
With a microspectrometer containing just a single photo-diode, research scientists can measure the colors of light, visible and invisible in the UV and infrared range. The one kilo spectrometer offers an interesting alternative to measurements with gallium-arsenide detectors. |
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| New displays that give a clear view |
28 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Displays made of organic LEDs are brightly lit but tend to be mostly opaque. Making them transparent opens up a whole new world of applications: OLEDs can be wedded with conventional LCDs and transform laminated glass into a display panel. |
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| A new tool called MOSILAB can simulate complex processes within a closed mode |
27 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Airplanes, cars and buildings, modern-day life would be hard to imagine without these complex technical systems. A new tool called MOSILAB can simulate complex processes within a closed model, as for example an aircraft takeoff. |
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| Steering the iron steed through the winter, new hot wheel detectors |
27 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Train brakes and wheel bearings of trains must work without fail. Because this is so important, the temperature and other operating parameters are monitored from the track. A covering of snow causes problems that can be prevented by flexibly controlling data acquisition. |
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| New 5-day car: Ordered Monday, ready by Friday |
26 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The classic series-production paradigm has become obsolete, the future belongs to flexible assembly lines. A European team of researchers is developing a concept for tomorrow's auto manufacturing: fast, made-to-order, and customer-oriented. |
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| Simulating reality, from concept to reality |
26 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
From concept to product, the pace of product development cycles is relentless. And with it the pressure to optimize existing products and processes. That`s why computer-based simulation systems play a key role in the future. |
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| Aircraft maintenance made easy, a new support system tailored to the needs of maintenance engineers |
25 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Aircraft mechanics work under extreme conditions. In the SNOW project, Fraunhofer scientists and their partners in industry have developed a support system tailored to the needs of maintenance engineers. The EU project and other topics will be presented at stand D22 'Signposts to tomorrow's markets' in Hall 2 at the Hanover Fair. |
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| Extreme wheelchairing, A new four-wheel drive wheelchair with hybrid motor and electronic assistance system |
25 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Comfortable, all-terrain and safe. A four-wheel drive wheelchair with hybrid motor and electronic assistance system helps the physically disabled live more independent lives. The innovative system even checks pulse rate and blood values and calls for help in emergencies. |
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| EU support for new nanoelectronics research platform in Dresden |
24 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Science and industry work hand in hand at the Fraunhofer-Center Nanoelectronic Technologies CNT in Dresden developing new process technologies for nanoelectronics. The European Commission endorses 232.5 million euro of public funding for a new research platform. |
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| New fitness sausage: low-fat and tasty |
24 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
German sausage might be very popular, but that tasty exterior conceals a lot of fat. Together with a master butcher, the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV has developed a new manufacturing process for sausages using just 2.5 percent fat. |
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| Saving energy in hospitals |
23 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Hospitals with several hundred beds use a great deal of energy for heating, hot water, air conditioning and running electronic equipment. Comparing key figures can highlight where and how energy can be saved effectively. |
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| Fraunhofer goes to Hollywood with new age digital cinema |
23 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Hollywood is ringing in the new age of digital cinema. The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is one of the research groups involved in the introduction of the new technology. Under a cooperation agreement with the Digital Cinema Initiatives DCI, a consortium of the major Hollywood studios, the Fraunhofer IIS is developing test procedures for the certification of digital projectors, servers and other hardware for the digital cinema of the future. |
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| New systems for digital cinema and broadcasting |
22 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Tomorrow's movie world is all-digital. Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting key components for digital cinema at one of the world's largest trade shows for electronic media, NAB2006 in Las Vegas. |
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| Spotting defects quickly, A new rapid surface inspection system for spotting defects is now in use |
22 May 2006 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Until now, only the human eye has been able to detect scratches and marks on ceiling panels or high-quality glossy paper. A rapid surface inspection system for spotting defects is now in use and will be presented at the Control international trade fair for quality assurance. |
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| New featherweight metal |
28 December 2005 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Metal foams, full of tiny air bubbles like a sponge cake, are gradually making inroads in industrial applications. Lightness and high energy absorption are two demanded material characteristics. Less known is the use of open-pored variants for decorative purposes. |
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| Liquid wood, Renewable sources provide the raw materials for a growing variety of everyday products |
15 December 2005 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Renewable sources provide the raw materials for a growing variety of everyday products. One example is a meltable wood polymere called Arboform, which is injection-molded to produce different parts. In the near future, an extruder will form artists' crayons and cosmetic pencils. |
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| New high-tech venture capital fund |
14 December 2005 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
A new venture capital firm, Munich Venture Partners, is cooperating with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to float a fund for financing high-tech startups. One of its main focuses will be to support Fraunhofer technology spin-offs. |
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| ARC turns smart thinking into powerful solutions |
30 August 2005 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council Inc. 2005 Annual Report highlights powerful solutions delivered to customers and partners of the applied R&D organization.
'This year, as we celebrate the province's 100th anniversary, we are reminded of the strong track record for innovation and technological breakthroughs ARC has achieved,' says LeRoy Johnson, Chair of the ARC Board of Directors. |
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| ARC, Pirelli Labs sign deal to develop micro fuel cell for industrial applications |
18 July 2005 - Alberta Research Council
Pirelli Labs S.p.A., of Italy, and Alberta Research Council Inc. signed a joint agreement to develop ARC's micro solid oxide fuel cell technology. The one-year agreement will focus on applying Pirelli's patented process which enables a hydrocarbon-based fuel to be supplied directly into ARC's fuel cell stack to simplify its design. |
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| ARC solar thermal building product demonstrates energy savings of 48 per cent |
01 June 2005 - Alberta Research Council
Researchers at the Alberta Research Council Inc. have completed a pilot study identifying a more efficient technology to insulate homes, reducing space heating costs for homeowners. Researchers proved by combining direct solar collection and heat storage technology with existing structural insulated panel system, energy consumption for space heating could be reduced by 48 per cent. |
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| IMUS technology leads the way in renewable resource technologies: |
06 May 2005 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council and Highmark Renewables were on hand today to mark the official opening of a new pilot plant at Highland Feeders, one of Canada's largest feedlot operations. The plant demonstrates new technology developed jointly by ARC and Highmark Renewables to transform manure into energy, bio-based fertilizers and reusable water, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts associated with land application of manure. |
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| Core research pushes the boundaries |
04 April 2005 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
It is forecast that nano-materials will revolutionise surface engineering because remarkable combinations of properties, such as strength, hardness, toughness, impact and corrosion resistance, will be achievable simultaneously due to nano-scale grain refinement. |
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| CrackFirst - a new sensor system to assist in structural health monitoring |
04 April 2005 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
At the heart of the CrackFirst system is a fatigue sensor which, when installed on a welded steel structure, indicates the portion of the design life that's been consumed and enables engineers to estimate its remaining life. The sensors, when suitably located, are subjected to the same loading history as the structure, thus provide an accurate record of cumulative weldfatigue damage.
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| Canadian technology to help China reduce greenhouse gas emissions passes first test |
10 January 2005 - Alberta Research Council
A $10 million joint project between the Canadian International Development Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has successfully completed stage one testing in China. The project, led in part by the Alberta Research Council, has successfully demonstrated the viability of storing carbon dioxide in deep, unmineable coalbeds, and of enhancing coalbed methane recovery by CO2 injection. |
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| CrackFirst sensor from TWI warns of fatigue failures |
07 January 2005 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
TWI has managed the development of a device that measures the amount of fatigue suffered by a welded structure. |
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| NOMAD - successful conclusion to European project |
15 December 2004 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
A public demonstration of the EU funded NOMAD project took place in November 2004 at the Caterpillar manufacturing facility in Gosselies, Belgium. The autonomous robotic arc welding system was demonstrated in front of an audience of representatives of the project partner organisations, members of the press and invited guests.
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| Lower-cost anti-tumor drug from yew needles |
12 December 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Natural sources of the active principle used in the cancer drug Taxol are limited, and its chemical synthesis is complicated. A precursor can be produced simply and at low cost using an enzyme membrane reactor. The raw material is an extract derived from yew needles. |
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| ARC & real time measurements developing evaluation services for unconventional gas |
29 November 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council and Real Time Measurements Inc. have announced a collaborative alliance on field in-situ permeability measurement services, which will help advance the development of unconventional natural gas resources in Western Canada. |
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| Technology to prevent mould and decay in wood building products |
25 November 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council and Genics of Acheson, Alberta, have developed a technology to prevent mould, decay and termite attacks in wood composite products. |
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| ARC, Genics Inc. commercialize technology to prevent mould, decay in wood building products |
24 November 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council Inc. together with Genics Inc., of Acheson, Alberta, have developed a technology to prevent mould, decay and termite attacks in wood composite products such as oriented strandboard. Called CobraCrushTM, the technology has been proven safe and effective for the applicator and the environment, and is already approved for use in the US by the Environmental Protection Agency. Genics is also finalizing a similar certification arrangement with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in Canada. |
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| Futuristic smart yarns on the horizon |
18 November 2004 - CSIRO
Technologies used to spin wool have been adapted to produce yarns made solely from carbon nanotubes (CNTs). |
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| Flame retardants cause brain damage in young mice |
01 November 2004 - Swedish Research Council
Reduced adaptability, hyperactivity, and disturbances in memory and learning functions. These are deficiencies mice and rats evince when exposed to bromide flame retardants, such as those found in computers, textiles, and other materials in our surroundings, during the period when the brain develops most rapidly.
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| Double-checking for cleanliness |
25 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Spotless surfaces are of prime importance in the plastics and metal processing industries, as dust and dirt can impair the function and adhesive properties of parts. A portable measuring device, the KombiSens, can detect both types of contamination. |
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| Packaging film as a sterile zone |
25 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
No one wants food that has gone mouldy – least of all when they have only just purchased the product. But consumers are not exactly wild about food preservatives either. Packaging researchers are now introducing coated films to fight the battle of the bacteria. |
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| Researchers prove that not only quantity of dust particles lungs but also amount of metal |
10 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Air pollution and inhalation of dust are known to cause or aggravate respiratory diseases. For the first time in Germany, researchers have proven that not only the quantity of dust particles in human lungs but also the amount of metal they contain is a significant causal factor. |
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| Compostable packaging tape |
04 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Used plastic wrappings and containers make good fuel if incinerated, but are also dumped in huge quantities on landfill sites. Researchers are developing a compostable packaging tape that can be disposed of more cheaply, and ultimately creates less waste. |
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| Glass sensors measure weathering effects |
04 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The corrosiveness of a specific atmosphere can be established in a few weeks by thin slices of special glass. The sensors are capable of monitoring the outdoor environment as well as indoors, for instance in sensitive production processes such as chip fabrication. |
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| Better protection for wood |
04 October 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Coatings used to protect the exposed wooden parts of buildings have to withstand all kinds of weather. To avoid over-frequent renovation, architects, builders and house-owners are advised to look for a reliable quality label. The relevant European standard is being revised. |
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| New special processing technique transforms melted chocolate into fine, snow-like powder |
23 September 2004 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
A special processing technique transforms melted chocolate into fine, snow-like powder. What makes it unique is that liquid aromas can be encapsulated in the globules of chocolate, even though these particles are only a few micrometers in diameter. |
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| MRI service offers unique reservoir rock analysis |
23 September 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council Inc. is applying Magnetic Resonance Imaging technology to provide novel reservoir rock analysis for oil and gas exploration. Magnetic resonance images offer a detailed look inside rock samples brought from deep underground. Currently, ARC is expanding its MRI service to include rock samples obtained from coalbed methane and shale gas reservoirs in Canada. |
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| ARC applies its expertise to improving sustainability in Paraguay |
11 June 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council, under contract to the Canadian International Development Association, has partnered with Paraguay's Fundacion Moises Bertoni on a three-year, $1.1 million project to apply expertise in land use planning to a variety of issues in a sensitive region of Paraguay. |
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| Biolubricants smooth way to a cleaner environment |
10 May 2004 - Alberta Research Council
The Alberta Research Council, under a contract to Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, recently conducted two tests on a biologically-based lubricant (biolubricant) for chainsaw bars. The tests, which were run for Greenland Corporation of Calgary, will help industry establish product standards for biolubricants to encourage consumers to choose these environmentally friendly products. |
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| Laser technology to map industrial plant gases available through Alberta Research Council |
16 February 2004 - Alberta Research Council
Alberta Research Council Inc. scientists are seeking industry partners to test laser technology that measures emissions from flares, storage tanks, gas processing plants, feedlots and refineries. The technology, called Differential Absorption Lidar, measure gases such as methane, sulphur dioxide, benzene and other volatile organic compounds remotely over distances up to 2 kilometres. |
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| New computers operated by brain waves |
11 November 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Do you believe in free will? That is certainly the case for numerous research groups in Europe and America working on concepts for brain-computer interfaces. These 'mind-readers' include an interdisciplinary research team in Berlin. By analyzing neural signals, computer scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology FIRST and neurologists from the Benjamin Franklin university clinic can determine whether a person intends to move his / her right or left hand, for example. |
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| Wide tires for big rigs |
12 October 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
It looks like SuSi is going to hit the market soon. In fact, tire and wheel producers don't want to show their cards just yet. After all, it's a hot topic. It won't be long before freight forwarders and vehicle manufacturers will be able to equip their big trucks with the nearly half-meter wide 'super single' wheels. |
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| Making proteins glow blue |
30 September 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
In the beginning, there was protein. 19th-century scientists at least believed that this group of organic compounds were based on some kind of primeval matter. Therefore they named them 'proteins', derived from the Greek word 'protos' (the first). It is meanwhile known that the structure of proteins is ultimately determined by the genome. |
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| Turning sound into light |
15 September 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Actors who perform in musicals often sweat in torrents when they have to zap around the stage on roller-skates or sing a ballad under a burning spotlight, dressed in bearskin. To allow the audience to hear them clearly, the artists wear cleverly hidden microphones underneath their make-up and costume. |
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| Providing service to service technicians |
15 September 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
'Sorry, I don't have the right part with me, I'll have to come back tomorrow,' says the friendly service technician, and departs. If it was 'just' someone's washing machine at home, all it means is waiting another day for clean shirts. But if it's a whole production line in a factory, it can have huge financial implications: |
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| From couch potato to active multimedia user |
31 August 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Even in this multimedia age, most TV viewers are condemned to an existence as relatively passive consumers. To express an opinion on a particular show, their only means of feedback is by indirect routes such as the telephone. |
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| The eye as a window onto the brain |
17 August 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
It is an undisputed fact that chronic hypertension can lead to a stroke. To identify this risk factor as early as possible, upper-arm blood-pressure measurements are not always adequate, for the vascular system consists of many branches where narrowing of the arteries can lead to localized zones of high pressure. |
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| New wax-based heat storage for buildings |
12 August 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Everybody visiting an old church or temple has experienced the cooling effect of thick walls. On the other hand, heat waves particularly affect buildings constructed in lightweight materials. |
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| New transponders keep track of inventory |
09 August 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Clothes make the man, but they also create work. Each consignment has to be recorded on arrival at the warehouse, and again after shipment to one of retail outlets. When the job involves thousands of garments, it can become a real labor of Sisyphus, especially when the time comes round for the next general inventory. |
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| New PA system with IP addresses |
21 July 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The public-address systems in conference halls, railroad stations and theaters are like enormous spiders' webs: Dozens of microphones and speakers are linked up over miles and miles of cable. To change the configuration of the equipment might, with luck, simply involve replugging a few wires at the mixing console, but in the worst case could mean having to call an electrician. |
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| From vision implants to new biochips |
29 June 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Over 35,000 blind people in Germany alone could be helped. If 'only' the retina is affected and the optic nerve still functions, implants can restore limited sight. For the past eight years, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg have been developing various sight prostheses with increasingly better resolution and performance. |
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| Scratch-proof transparence for plastic |
06 June 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The 'one-times-one' chant of the witches 'This must ye ken! From one take ten' guild in Goethe's Faust could be re-written by this new process simplificationm, call it: 'This must be done! From two makes one'. Until now, plastic lenses were first hardened and then treated with an antireflective coating in a separate step. Now it's done simultaneously, without witchcraft. |
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| Cars supply the latest traffic news |
23 May 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
It's the same frustrating routine on the way to work every day: The radio announcer reports 'stop-and-go traffic'. And once again, detours are the only way to get to the office on time. Information generated by typical traffic reporting services, such as SMS-based systems, lag behind actual road conditions because they depend primarily on stationary traffic detectors which lack full coverage. |
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| New electronic tongue as oil tester |
13 May 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
In the early days of mass motoring, in the 1950s, a car became due for inspection and oil change roughly every 3,000 kilometers. Since then, improvements to car engines and oils have lengthened this interval to around 30,000 kilometers, and it is likely to increase still further: to three times that figure, in the years to come. |
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| Watching tumors melt away |
13 May 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
All standard methods of removing tumors have side effects. Surgical excision under anesthetic leaves a wound, usually extending into adjacent healthy tissue. It also raises the risk of cancerous cells spreading via blood and lymph vessels. The X- or gamma-rays used in radiation therapy have to pass through healthy tissue to reach deeper-lying tumors, causing collateral damage on the way. And the hormones and other drugs used in chemotherapy have undesirable effects on the whole body. |
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| Artificial tissue from the test tube |
02 April 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The human body is held together by collagen (from the Greek kolla = glue). This group of structural proteins makes up 20-30 percent of the protein content of mammals, and can be found in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, teeth and bones. The range of associa-ted diseases is correspondingly wide. |
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| Modern product development is increasingly taking place within virtual environments |
29 March 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Modern product development is increasingly taking place within virtual environments. The keywords are rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing. Behind them lie various technologies that speed up the manufacture of prototypes and functional parts, particularly in low-volume batches. |
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| Face-to-face contact in a virtual environment |
15 March 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Although many sectors of the telecommunications industry are eagerly awaiting a ray of hope on the economic horizon, the prospects for video conferencing systems look good: Last year, sales on the European market increased by almost 15 percent, and the consultant Frost & Sullivan predicts that the growth rate will exceed 20 percent next year. |
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| Haptic interaction with a virtual globe |
13 March 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Polarization glasses in position, data gloves on, and then into the CAVE, a room in which computer-generated images are projected onto the walls, this is how people have so far ventured into virtual worlds. |
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| Flawless toys from plastic |
12 March 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
To the chagrin of many parents, their children's shelves will soon be buckling under the weight of new toys once again. Apart from the issue of educational value comes the question of whether to look on the underside of that plastic elephant. Is there a Conformité Européenne? |
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| New modern-day nomad navigation systems |
10 March 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Trade show visitors know the feeling of panic, despite all preparations. Hurrying through the maze of halls and aisles before closing, they waste time looking for the last specific exhibits. |
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| Hammering sheet metal into shape |
27 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The tool at the pressing plant resonantly pounds the sheet metal, ejecting the newly formed vehicle hood moments later. Although this operation runs like clockwork on the production line, it caused the developers of the metal-forming equipment many a headache, since sheet metal springs back (unbends elastically) when the press is opened. |
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| The natural way to keep houses warm |
27 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Anyone who bought a new house built in Germany after 2002 has no worries. New building regulations introduced that year impose stricter energy standards, so these homes are generally well insulated. |
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| Researchers discover promising new natural substances in the rainforest |
23 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
One present-day form of colonialism works like this: A company sends researchers into the rainforest to discover promising new natural substances. Once found, the company registers a patent or trademark and begins to cash-in. |
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| New turbo compressor for mobile surfers |
23 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Despite faster Internet connections, many users still resentfully associate the three letters www with 'world wide wait'. This is also due to the fact that files are constantly increasing in size. When using wireless terminals with low-resolution displays, such as palmtops or PDAs, it is not in fact necessary to transfer all elements of a Web page, designed for display on large, high-resolution monitors. Although mobile service providers offer solutions to this problem, access is then limited to preselected sites, in the same way as the WAP service. |
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| Varnish measures pressure and vibrations |
15 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Despite the use of computer simulation, wind tunnel testing is still required to measure pressure changes and airflow speeds on the surfaces of new aircraft and automobile prototypes. Such testing is now done less with smoke visualization and threads but more frequently with high-tech sensors which have the least influence on air flows. |
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| Olympic spirit at CeBIT with demand-driven information for everybody |
10 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Outside the sports area the mobile digital companion named FLAME 2008 will offer predominant information-services about the town with its integrated roaming-concept. Once the user has defined his individual profile he will only receive the information he really needs. |
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| Fraunhofer researchers develop revolutionary new sound system |
02 February 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
'This innovative system clearly improves cinematic sound quality. The difference in quality is even more significant than the step taken from mono to stereo', comments Prof. Karlheinz Brandenburg, head of the AEMT. The new sound system generates extremely realistic audio sound within the confines of any space or room. ' |
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| New fireproof insulation derived from paper |
31 January 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
What can happen when steel girders soften during a fire was sadly illustrated by the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Civil engineers in Germany, as in most European countries, are well aware that the use of asbestos materials as fire insulation for load-bearing structures is prohibited by building regulations, such as the code of practice for working with hazardous materials. |
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| ISC: Systematic improvements to sintering processes |
12 January 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Every schoolchild knows that carbon burns easily. So what about brake disks? Those used in Formula-1 race cars and certain top-of-the-range Porsche and Mercedes cars are made of silicon carbide reinforced with carbon fibers. Their braking performance is so exceptional that similar materials will soon find their way into mid-range family automobiles. |
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| Nano-competence for hard thin films |
10 January 2003 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The good old magnetic disk drive is holding up well in the face of competition from optical storage media like CD-ROM and DVD and semiconductor flash and smart cards. Major advances are still being made, with typical storage densities doubling roughly every year and a half. |
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| New radar gun for amateur sports |
21 December 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Nowadays, model railways are less likely to be found on the Christmas list of those with a love of technological gadgets than consumer electronics. Alongside hifi systems, mobile phones or computers, a new type of speedometer will probably also make a few men's hearts beat faster. |
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| Snow made from potatoes |
12 December 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Films set in snow-laden winter landscapes cannot always be produced in the dead of winter. Until now, expensive artificial snow had to be imported from Hollywood to obtain the desired effects. In addition, it is always a laborious task to remove the splendid white chips made from polyethylene film after the shooting is over, almost unavoidable that some of the non-biodegradable plastic snow would remain. |
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| Brightening up old church windows |
08 December 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Somber semi-darkness, flickering candles and the smell of incense, visitors to old churches are delighted by this atmosphere, especially at Christmas time. Yet only a few of them will have noticed that Gothic churches are growing darker inside with every passing year. |
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| Steel tools built using salami tactics |
15 November 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Gazing through a car showroom window, have you ever asked yourself how they manage to make such a variety of different models? One thing's for sure: The days of 'any color as long as it's black' and one model for all have gone forever. The new buzzword not only in the car industry is mass customization, still mass production, but incorporating a maximum of personalized features. |
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| Leather with desirable qualities |
11 November 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
According to the German leather industry association VDL, 'The art of dressing leather lies in the ability to apply the finest possible protective coating without detracting from its natural appearance or impairing desirable qualities such as suppleness and breathability.' |
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| Up-and-coming researchers in life sciences |
02 November 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Fungal infections pose a serious threat to patients with weakened immune systems. In the past few years, candida albicans has become the most common germ for mycosis, and the number of cases is on the rise. This widespread member of the yeast family, has already developed strong resistance to antimycotic drugs commonly prescribed. |
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| New sensor system, now being installed at a Nuremberg stadium |
31 October 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
'And he shoots goaaal! or was it offside?' During a soccer match, a wrong decision can mean the difference between victory or defeat, angering the players and spectators. No matter what a slow-motion replay reveals, the referee's decision is final. |
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| New smooth self-cleaning coatings |
06 October 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Only a few years ago, soil-repellant coatings for polished metal surfaces were unthinkable. Although it is possible to exploit the 'lotus effect' and create knobby microstructured surfaces, they are not very resistant to mechanical stress and the coated surface loses its sheen. |
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| New fuel-cell grid connection |
27 September 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
The travelling colossus weighs 20 tons and measures over seven meters in length. A few months ago, the core of the 'PEM Oberhausen' power supply system completed its long journey from canadian Vancouver to the Ruhr region in Germany. |
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| The new learning drill |
28 August 2002 - Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Today's powerful drills penetrate most concrete walls like a knife through butter. But not all concrete is the same: Depending on the application, different grades are used and they exhibit great differences, also in strength. A garden path made of exposed aggregate concrete is not in the same league as a strongroom which is protected by means of steel-reinforced heavy concrete. |
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