From Research to Application: Projects at Fraunhofer EMFT

Gear oils make a significant contribution to minimising friction and thus ensure the safe operation of production facilities. In the Smart Gear project, researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are developing solutions to detect a drop in the performance of gear oils with the help of sensor technology and machine learning methods and to predict when the oil needs to be changed.

The aim of predictive maintenance is to maintain operating resources proactively and with foresight. This should reduce downtime and maintenance costs to a minimum. Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are testing new concepts that use machine learning methods to efficiently process even extremely heterogeneous data and make accurate maintenance predictions for production facilities.

Fraunhofer EMFT is conducting research on miniaturized suction probes for soil water analysis. The goal is to enable demand-based fertilization by real-time monitoring of the nitrate content in soil water.

Efficient use of resources while maintaining high yields from the fields has become a central topic for agriculture. Monitoring various plant parameters, such as their water or nutrient content, plays an important role here. Currently, such parameters are deducted from soil samples by complex and lengthy processes in laboratories. The scientists at Fraunhofer EMFT are working on the development of reliable and faster methods to monitor relevant plant parameters.

In the project ‘Insect cells as sensors for environmental toxins’, Fraunhofer EMFT is developing a novel test method in which living insect cells are used as sensitive biosensors. This allows even the smallest toxic effects of pesticides to be detected quickly, without labelling and automatically. The aim is to identify risks at an early stage and support the development of bee-friendly pesticides – an important contribution to the protection of insects and biodiversity.

A reliable food supply is one of the elementary basic needs of our society. What has long been taken for granted is gaining new urgency in the face of current challenges such as climate change, supply chain problems, labor shortages and political and military aggression. Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are working on innovative solutions for more productive and at the same time more sustainable agriculture and forestry as part of the EU project AGRARSENSE.

Fraunhofer EMFT is developing CAELIA Health, a startup-project, a AI-powered solution for inhalation therapy in asthma and COPD. The system helps patients use their inhalers correctly in daily life, provides clear feedback, and makes therapy measurable – without adding complexity. Its goal is to improve adherence, enhance treatment outcomes, and enable millions of patients to live with fewer symptoms. With CAELIA Health, patients gain more control, confidence, and quality of life.

For Bavaria, the agricultural sector has a significant economic importance with a turnover of around 121 billion euros per year. However, conflicts with the economic goals of farmers and the sustainable goals of environmental and animal protection initiatives occur from time to time due to the different interests involved. Especially the emission of ammonia gases leads to social discussions. Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are developing a more efficient measurement method for detecting ammonia gases in agriculture. The aim is to contribute to more environmentally friendly and animal-friendly agriculture.

Every year, over 3 million immobile people worldwide suffer from severe, mostly preventable pressure ulcers, with around 0.6 million in Germany. Pressure ulcers not only cause personal suffering but are also time-consuming and costly to treat. Current prophylaxis methods require significant commitment from nursing staff and do not provide continuous security. Therefore, there is an urgent need for individual and continuous monitoring for effective pressure ulcer prophylaxis. SoreAlert, a potential spin-off from Fraunhofer EMFT, addresses this need with a smart patch that allows for automated monitoring of at-risk body areas and provides early warnings for pressure ulcers.

Whether in automobiles – especially in the context of autonomous driving – or future industrial manufacturing: plugs and electrical connection technologies have a key role to play in digital networking. They are the main interface between machines, control units and data processing systems and so they provide the basis for the functionality, simple handling and reliability of automation technology.

The research project »Velektronik - Vertrauenswürdige Elektronik (ZEUS)« of the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), aims to establish a networking platform for trusted electronics as an interface between research and industry.

SENNA is a programmable neuromorphic processor based on a mixed-signal, circuit‑switched Field‑Programmable Spiking Neuron Array (FPSNA).

Edge computing is considered a key for new IoT applications. In order to bring artificial intelligence into future edge products, Fraunhofer EMFT researchers are working together with Fraunhofer IIS and Fraunhofer IPMS as part of the EU ANDANTE project to develop innovative mixed-signal artificial neural network (ANN) accelerator with computation-in-memory (CIM) ability. These are intended to enable the construction of solid hardware and software platforms for AI application development.

With the Soldering Mobile, the Center for Interconnection Technology in Electronics ZVE at Fraunhofer EMFT is now offering its customers an attractive alternative to onsite training courses at the Oberpfaffenhofen training center. The soldering station on wheels can be put into operation directly at the customer's premises using plug & play.

Aquaplaning and black ice turn streets into dangerous slides, which often leads to serious accidents. Within the framework of the high-performance center »secure intelligent systems« (LZSiS), Fraunhofer EMFT and Uedelhoven Studios are working together on a solution to the problem. A real-time warning system shall identify the potential danger due to water or ice on the road surface, thus enabling a predictive detection of the road conditions. Such an early warning system would increase the road safety for all traffic participants.

Approximately 80 % of the CO2 footprint of average electronic components is created already during their production. A Fraunhofer EMFT research team is working on optimizing semiconductor manufacturing processes in order to minimize the use of climate-damaging process gases. In this context, the scientists are also testing more climate-friendly alternatives to etching gases used as standard today.

The SmartMan project aims to make semiconductor packaging production intelligent and sustainable in order to manufacture error-free and resource-efficient electronics.

We all know it: wintertime is cold season and cough or headache tablets are often part of everyday life. But our gastrointestinal tract absorbs medication differently. In the “e-Pille” project, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes ITMP, EMFT and IZM are researching the points in the gastrointestinal tract where different active ingredients are best absorbed. The aim is to optimize the formulation of new drugs when taken orally.

The technology is already state of the art in modern cars: radar sensors that alert the driver when the vehicle is approaching an obstacle. Collision protection of this kind is also crucial in the future of production - smart factories in which intelligent industrial robots are expected to act completely autonomously in an increasing number of work steps - in order to ensure safe cooperation between man and machine. In the RoboMove project, Fraunhofer EMFT is working with robotics manufacturer KUKA and InnoSenT GmbH to develop an intelligent 3D distance measurement and obstacle detection system for robot arms in motion.

Cynergy4MIE is an EU-funded research project aimed at developing a platform for sensor technology, electronics and AI in mobility, infrastructure and energy systems. The goal is to accelerate innovation and strengthen Europe's competitiveness.

Many plasma coating systems used in the semiconductor industry have to undergo thorough cleaning on a regular basis after each stage of production. Currently this is mainly carried out using perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gases, which are up to 17,000 times as damaging to the environment and climate as the greenhouse gas CO2. Solvay, Texas Instruments, Muegge and Fraunhofer EMFT are working on the project ecoFluor to develop an environment-friendly alternative which only has the greenhouse potential of CO2: the gas mixture used by the cooperation partners – Solvaclean®, consisting of fluorine, nitrogen and argon – dispenses entirely with the highly environmentally harmful gases PFCs and NF3.

Whether electric car or photovoltaic system - intelligent battery systems and storage units are key enablers for sustainable technologies. In the HealthBatt research project, Fraunhofer EMFT researchers are working with partners on a multi-sensor approach to holistically record and evaluate load profiles in battery storage systems. The combination of failure analyses and AI-supported data evaluation is intended to extend the service life of battery systems and increase safety of use in the event of overload.

Europe, and Germany in particular, have outstanding strengths in microelectronics for automotive, energy, security and industrial applications. In the EU project EuroPAT-MASIP, partners from nine countries are bundling their know-how to lay strategic foundations for the development of innovative and complex electronic systems. This is intended to secure and significantly increase the competitiveness of Europe's microelectronics industry in a global comparison.

Intelligent interactive systems for human-machine interaction (MMI) are increasingly being used in many applications in the areas of Industry 4.0, Smart Health, Smart Security and Automotive. Here, sensor systems for non-verbal information exchange in the near-distance and contact range are essential for both functionality and security. In order to meet the increasing demands in terms of performance, energy efficiency and functionality, researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are working together with three other Fraunhofer institutes to develop a modularized MEMS technology and sensor platform.

Nature sets a high bar: Our brain is capable of processing and storing huge amounts of information without using more energy than a 20-watt light bulb. This is a good reason for researchers worldwide to take the human brain as a model for circuits in so-called neuromorphic chips. Within the EU project NeurONN, a Fraunhofer EMFT research team is working with six European partners on extremely energy-efficient elements and architectures for neuromorphic computing. Innovative 2D materials are also being used in the process.

An advanced abatement system and exhaust gas cleaning solutions capture and reduce PFAS, NF3, and SF6 emissions in semiconductor manufacturing.

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases of civilization. Around 15-25% of patients develop diabetic foot syndrome during the progression of the disease: nerve damage and circulatory disorders, particularly in the feet. As those affected have a reduced or no sensation of pain in their feet, pressure points, blisters or cuts often form unnoticed, which can result in an open ulcer if not treated in time. In future, a patch with integrated sensor technology should help to detect critical conditions and the need for treatment at an early stage.

A birth is a miracle of nature - but also a highly vulnerable stage in the lives of mother and baby. In the EU project Newlife, researchers from 6 European countries are jointly working on innovative sensor-based monitoring solutions to ensure the well-being of mother and child during pregnancy as well as during and after birth. The aim is to digitally revolutionize paediatric and childbirth care.

In the EU project SusFe, Fraunhofer EMFT is working with European partners to develop an efficient and resource-saving design and production platform for medical devices. The aim is to meet both the growing demand for medical devices as well as the aspect of sustainability.

Air filtration systems are considered an effective measure to reduce the risk of infection by SARS-Cov-2 in enclosed spaces. However, the HEPA filters commonly used to date are maintenance-intensive and costly. Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT, together with Helmholtz Zentrum München, ams OSRAM International GmbH and MANN+HUMMEL GmbH are developing self-sterilizing filter elements using integrated LED chips to clean the air.