Press Release Archive

In the automotive sector, in plant construction and in tool manufacture, it is essential to have effective quality assurance measures in place – errors that occur during production are too costly to tolerate.

Better patient care, more efficient processes and effective networking of stakeholders: The increasing digitalization of the healthcare sector is making all of this possible. To support these advances, Fraunhofer experts are developing systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) that can be used effectively and in compliance with data protection regulations. Nine Fraunhofer units will be presenting their research results at the DMEA 2024 trade show, held in Berlin from April 9 to 11, 2024. The researchers will be available for discussions and insights into the future of healthcare IT at Booth D-108 in Hall 2.2.

Vital data, imaging results and information about lifestyle: Comprehensive patient data is already available to healthcare professionals, but not always in a readily usable form. Fraunhofer IGD has set itself the target of making this data optimally available for the support of medical decision-making and also for the involvement of patients in their own treatment. At the DMEA in Berlin (9th - 11th April 2024), the Fraunhofer research team will be showcasing two new solutions, firstly a visual-interactive tool for cohort analysis in research, and secondly a Parkinson’s monitor which helps doctors and patients to better understand the course of the disease.

The veinXam system developed by Fraunhofer IGD uses a small sensor to detect impairment of the deep leg veins at an early stage, thereby enabling physicians to intervene and prevent subsequent serious consequences. This telemedical solution monitors vein function, wherever the patient may be, by means of sensors which continuously measure the blood flow in the deep veins of the leg. The system can also be integrated into a compression stocking, which many people have to wear permanently anyway. If veinXam detects pathological changes, it sends a notification to an app or, in the case of an individual receiving inpatient care, to the nursing staff. In this way, thromboses can be detected earlier and treated more promptly. Fraunhofer IGD will be showcasing veinXam at the DMEA in Berlin during the week of 9th - 11th April. Interested parties can see the system in action at the Fraunhofer booth.

At DMEA, Fraunhofer IGD will be showcasing a wireless and contact-free system that serves as a personal health assistant in the workplace. As an offshoot of the CareCam project, STRAP sets new standards for healthy work practices in the office. Developed in close collaboration with industry partner Deep Care GmbH, STRAP uses high-precision sensor technology and AI-based analysis to continuously record users’ vital data and provide individualized recommendations for improving their well-being. Members of the research team will be offering insights into the current status of their project at the DMEA (9th - 11th April 2024) in Berlin.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Europe have been given new hope with the arrival of ocular prostheses that can be manufactured in reproducibly high quality and less manual work using the 3D printing process. Fraunhofer IGD is supporting ocularists in this endeavor with the provision of the requisite software and printer driver. More than 200 patients are already benefiting from the new technology. The researchers have now published their methodology and results to date in a paper that has appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications and is now available to all interested parties.

The use of drones for commercial as well as private purposes is steadily increasing. To ensure the safe integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into German airspace, it is therefore essential to designate no-fly zones. The aim of the fAIRport research project, brought to a successful completion in late 2023, was to automatically recognize and identify such zones. It received funding of €1,205,000 from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as part of the mFUND innovation initiative. Experts from the German air navigation service provider (DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH), wetransform GmbH and Fraunhofer IGD collaborated on the development of a solution that makes extensive use of artificial intelligence. The resulting geodata platform for local authorities, which is based on open standards, is now operated by wetransform, a spin-off of Fraunhofer IGD.

The NetCapVis solution from Fraunhofer IGD makes it possible for users to analyze data streams and uncover sources of errors in their own network without having to check through endless columns of numbers. It simplifies the work of IT staff, especially in small to medium-sized enterprises and in local government. This is because the visual and interactive design is easily accessible, even where the user lacks in-depth specialist knowledge. Fraunhofer IGD will be presenting this and other solutions at the IT security trade fair it-sa Expo&Congress in Nuremberg (10th 12th October).

Digitalization is now even making inroads into the cowshed. The purpose behind this move is to ensure animal welfare and the sustainable production of food and renewable raw materials. The Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP and the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD will be showcasing their latest developments in this specialized field at MeLa 2023. This will be the first time that the two Rostock research institutes have exhibited at this particular agricultural trade show. They will be presenting the results of their work at the “Campus Wissenschaft” stand which will be jointly run with partners from other scientific institutions. One of the experiences laid on for visitors will be a virtual tour of a cowshed, using VR glasses to monitor the health and welfare of the animals kept there.

Gathering of the biometrics community in Germany: This year’s Darmstadt Biometrics Week will bring together researchers and end users from all over the world. During the five-day series of events (September 18 22), they will exchange information on the latest research results and developments in the industry. They will especially focus on key topic areas such as morphing, presentation attack detection and privacy protection in biometric applications. The organizers are still accepting registrations for the individual components of the week-long event.