Fraunhofer Adaptronics Alliance

Fraunhofer Adaptronics Alliance

Projects

Fraunhofer Adaptronics Alliance

Shape memory actuators with inherent self guiding function

The down scalability of conventional actuators is limited by their physical working principles. This applies especially for micro actuators resulting in a massive disproportion between Workspace and cross section. These scaling effects don’t apply to Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) resulting in an out-standing potential for micro actuator design. However, like conventional actuators SMA based actuators usually require guidance which negatively affect their cross section, mass and complexity.

Cumulino – active storage cushion with Shape memory alloy

Cumulino is an active positioning cushion to cure and prevent infancy skull asymmetries. Since supine sleeping position is recommended for infants it gets more likely to skull deformations. These deformities can be caused by positional anomalies in utero or postnatally. Additionally a reduced blood flow to the brain and an accompanying potential risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cannot be excluded.

Intelligent walling with shape memory effect

Esszimmer und Terrasse

Nearly 40 percent of the total energy consumption in Germany is caused by the housing sector. Heating, cooling and ventilation of houses, office buildings and public buildings is expensive. […] To reduce energy consumption, researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden are developing in cooperation with the Department of Textile and Surface of the Berlin Weissensee School of Art wall components that react autonomously to sunlight and the heat thereof.

Modular measuring system for the force distribution in forming machines

The force distribution in forming tools influences the deep drawing process significantly. This force distribution depends on different factors, e.g. the tool geometry, stiffness in the machine/tool-system and the control of machines with multiple axis. For the reduction of the try-out process of forming tools as well as the adaption of the force distribution by means of different actuator systems a metrological detection of the distribution is necessary.

LEAF – How is my plant?

LEAF serves as a communication tool for the domestic flora. Attached to the flower pot LEAF senses the growing conditions of the plant. Temperature, humidity and light conditions are detected and evaluated by the integrated electronics. Symbolized by laves, the resulting information can be visualized. The smart pointers move and deform analogous to the needs of the plants for light, water and temperature.

Active noise control modules for ventilation ducts

Modern homes and office buildings are often equipped with forced ventilation and air conditioning systems. From an acoustical point of view this may cause problems due to disturbing noise emissions and unwanted sound transmissions from adjacent rooms and corridors. Compact active noise control (ANC) modules based on the principle of active anti-sound can be used to reduce acoustic disturbance, improve acoustical comfort and to protect privacy.

Hybrid magnetorheological damper

Fraunhofer LBF developed an energy efficient magnetorheological damper. An adjustable field generated by a physically moveable permanent magnet is superposed by a second field generated by a solenoid coil.

Development and test of an active engine mount

In vehicles, engines cause vibrations that are transferred from the mounts and the adjacent structures to the interior where they typically result in unwanted sound emissions. Current developments in the automotive industry such as three-cylinder engines and the use of cylinder deactivation are leading to an increase in vibration levels that passive systems can no longer compensate for. The implementation of active systems is a promising approach to improve vibration comfort and the acoustic impression.

Distributed adaptive vibration absorbers

As a demonstration for the distributedvibration absorbers a segment of a 10m rescue boat was chosen. The aim is to reduce the structure-borne sound entry through the contact points of the internal combustion engine.

Active rotational systems

The Fraunhofer LBF works on different adaptive and active concepts for rotational systems. The works include novel actuators deployed for conventional duties as well as innovative functions provided by conventional actuators.

Mode RC-Car-Demonstrator - Wireless Sensor Network for Damper Monitoring

To show a new ability of monitoring vehicles dampers, an RC-Car is equipped with four wireless sensor nodes. Those nodes acquire vibrations related to the health state of the damper and transmit them to a central observation unit.

Development of a structural Health Monitoring System (SHM) for Sports Equipment

Nowadays monitoring systems are used in a wide range of applications and different information can be derived, depending on the signal processing. An example is given by the classical fatigue analysis for permanently excited structures (condition monitoring) or static structures (structural health monitoring). Especially in sports, such systems must satisfy stringent requirements like robustness, compactness, weight, and cost-effective implementation.

Active Noise Control

Our environment is marked by noise emitted by planes, traffic, machines – an increasing number of people suffer from that. Experts affirm noise to be an environmental pollution. Reduction of noise thus is an important challenge for environmental technique. The usual approach for noise reduction consists in passive insulation. Structural vibration provoking noise radiation can be reduced e.g. with insulating foam. However this approachis increasingly limited due to technical and economical reasons.

SHM system for a structure subjected to wind excitation

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) methods are of increasing interest for the evaluation of huge structures such as aging bridges, buildings in earthquake areas or temporarily inaccessible offshore wind energy plants. Varying dynamics due to changing wind excitation and temperatures makes monitoring of these kinds of structures a challenging task. Fraunhofer LBF develops SHM methods focusing particularly on the applicability to real world structures.

Multiaxial Interface

Active solution for the vibration problem with smart structures composed of sensors, actuator & Elektronic Ability to adjust itself in an optimal way to existing structures Structure integration in working issues.

Bending and torsion proof rod

Conflict between demand for great stiffness for precision processing and high speed necessary to increase effectiveness Increased stiffness of lightweight construction by means of active vibration reduction.