Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Inland waterway transportation has played a limited role in Europe so far, with a share of around six percent. Together with 15 partners, Fraunhofer researchers are seeking to change this with the EU project CRISTAL. Björn Krämer and Tammo Märtens, both research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, explain in the interview how digital twins and smart sensor technologies can help increase transportation capacities and make logistics processes more reliable.

Electronics exposed to radiation can be prone to failure. Satellites and medical devices such as CT scanners are especially sensitive. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Dresden are working on an open-source tool that can be used to better prevent radiation-related loss of function.

How can we ensure reliable communication during a disaster when mobile networks are congested? Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT have found an answer to this increasingly relevant question. A mobile, self-organizing communication network based on Fraunhofer technology connects emergency services with each other, the incident command and the internet. Private 5G networks make it possible to quickly restore communication, without relying on traditional infrastructures.

Natural gas, biomethane, hydrogen: Each of these must have their water content removed before they can enter the supply network. This process previously involved the use of chemicals and high temperatures. A new technology developed by Fraunhofer researchers can now deliver this result using nanoporous membranes—rapidly, cleanly, and with minimal energy consumption. This allows renewable energy suppliers to cut costs and reduce climate-damaging emissions.