New Research Projects for Future Mobility
12. June 2023
An international panel of experts recommended six projects submitted in the “Future Mobility” call issued by the government of Upper Austria for funding. The total investment of the selected projects amounts to EUR 5.84 million. EUR 4.3 million of this will be provided by the government of Upper Austria.
Research centres from the UAR Innovation Network are involved in three of the projects:
PrintedRadar: 3D-Printed Scanners
In PrintedRadar, 3D waveguide systems are to be produced using additive manufacturing. Unlike the conventional flat and costly patch antennas that have to be big in order to reduce the negative influence of the radar channels, PrintedRadar aims to use waveguide systems in combination with 3D scanners such as horn antennas to improve the performance of the entire radar system and miniaturize it. The project is researching the production of lightweight polymer 3D waveguide radar scanner systems in order to use additive manufacturing for their entire production, including metallization and filling the structures.
Partners: • PROFACTOR, Infineon Technologies Linz, Silicon Austria Labs, TIGER Coatings
rGFK goes Trailer: Smart Trailers from Recycled Wind Turbines
In the coming years, thousands of wind turbines will be decommissioned due to their age. There is an urgent need for research into their ecologically and economically viable reuse. This is the starting point of the project “rGFK goes Trailer”. The new material and its use will be subjected to thorough exploration using a continuous chain of processes. The aim is to give fibre-reinforced plastics (FRPs) and particles of rubber from waste tyres a second and third sustainable life. A new and lighter bed plate for lorry trailers is being developed from substances that have so far been problematic. The project also aims to explore how intelligent sensors can be integrated into the structure to provide the trailer operators with information on load distribution and loading status. The aim is to develop a bed structure made of FRPs that is 25% lighter than the phenolic plywood boards currently in use while maintaining the same mechanical stability.
Partners: TCKT, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria R&D, Wilhelm Schwarzmüller, TRIPAN Leichtbauteile, Synron
GEPROBA: Faster and Better 3D Printing of Light Components
Wire-based additive manufacturing (WAM) is well suited for producing large, complex, light components and can be used for flexible, efficient and sustainable production of components for alternative drive systems and vehicle systems. To enable large-scale industrial use of WAM, a significant increase in component deposition rates (= wire melting performance) is necessary, along with reduced process times. This is to be achieved by modifying the welding equipment, with a specific requirement being further development of the existing torch systems.
Partners: Leichtmetall-Kompetenzzentrum Ranshofen, Bitter, Inocon Technologie, Wilhelm Schwarzmüller
More information in the press kit
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