Technologies for a low power actuator are specified, researched, developed and tested. The results are the basis for a new generation of low power access control devices.

SPECS Zurich GmbH provides measurement systems for scanning probe microscopy and quantum transport applications. During this project, a new plug&play-capable high- speed serial interface with ultra low latency and optical transmission shall be developed, such that it can be used in demanding environments such as ...

Researchers from the CAI and InES conduct a technical deep dive together to explore the possibilities of capturing process knowledge on injection molding in deep neural networks and transfer the results to novel usage scenarios. The groups of Prof. Stadelmann (Computer Vision, Perception & Cognition, ZHAW CAI) and ...

ZHELIO: A User Assistance System (workbench platform) for building operators combining automation, information technology, IoT sensors, optimisation and digital modelling of assets. The envisioned system empowers users to use, interact and optimise living buildings and promote digital transformation  ...

Implement a demo application to show that frame preemption according to IEEE 802.1Qbu and IEEE802.3br for 10BASE-T1L Single-Pair Ethernet Links. Purpose of the demonstration application is to support standardization efforts to amend the standard IEEE 802.3 to allow frame preemption for 10BASE-T1L links.  ...

The rolling stock industry is mission critical and places hard real time deadlines on its operations. Network security in train control products, and across a productrange, is an utmost concern which we meet by developing both an innovative methodology and IP components to meet these challenges.  ...

Time synchronization is one of the main pillars for the next generation of Ethernet-based Industrial communication systems. Control loops, synchronized sampling and scheduled communication required time synchronization with at least 1 microsecond accuracy. For TSN networks, IEEE Std. 802.1AS-2020 is defined for this ...

The final objective (this offer is for a first phase) is to build a demonstrator to show the feasibility of implementing frame preemption (IEEE802.3 clause 99 and IEEE802.1Qbr) on 10BASE-T1L links, if possible in a multi-vendor setup.

About 2-3% of the worldwide population develop kidney stones. The stone can be treated with extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). For the treatment the stone has to be positioned in the focus of the shock wave source. Patient positioning is critical, because misalignment will lead to ineffective treatment ...

Development of a low-power sensor that can be used to trigger or stop other applications that require more energy.

Development of an energy autonomous low-cost monitoring device to monitor cookstove usage and report the information using LPWAN systems

SPECS Zurich is a supplier of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) Controller Systems. A new high-speed communication architecture will be designed and a proof of concept will be built. The new link will be able to transmit up to 16 Gbps with extremely low jitter and high synchronicity between different devices.  ...

Self-powered sensors enable smart management of water distribution systems. Underground sensors on water pipes collect energy from their environment and wirelessly transmit data to the surface. The insights created through distributed measurements facilitate unique data-driven services and value.  ...

The project brings essential innovations which empower Nanosurf to strengthen its market position and open up new customer segments: Fast photothermal off-resonance tapping in combination with data-driven control, dual actuation and advanced data-handling with machine learning support.

A novel approach for a fully automated food waste management solution for commercial kitchens is investigated. Food waste is automatically detected using a new camera device, preprocessed in real-time and classified using machine learning algorithms.

Hard and firmware development of a fail-safe system for drones.

Muscle loss is a concomitant of various diseases (cachexia) and the usual aging process (sarcopenia). Limiting this reduction and, ideally, even reversing it makes medical and economic sense. In medicine, the metabolic function (in addition to the pure movement) of the muscles is increasingly understood and ...

The AMANDA project aims to stretch the limits of Electronic Smart Systems’ (ESS) autonomy (in terms of energy, decision making & maintenance-free lifetime extension) and miniaturization (by applying high aspect ratio design architecture). Its ultimate goal is to develop and validate a cost-attractive next generation ...

Time synchronization according to IEEE 802.1AS is integrated in a TSN-capable switching platform.

This project will investigate and test methods aimed at improving the performance of current popular LPWAN IoT systems. The improvements target several areas such as determinism, latency and energy. They enable new applications that are currently not possible.

Harvesting energy from cyclist heat to power a wireless embedded system on a bike

A TEG is used upon a finger touch to convert thermal flux into electrical energy and power a wireless BLE sensor

A new system for preventing collisions of the cutting head in laser cutting machines with protruding sheet metal parts is being researched. Such parts are detected in real time by image processing in a multi-processor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) to prevent a crash.

The project enables a secure authentication of resource-constrained wireless nodes in an IP-based mesh network for building automation. This authentication is an imperative requirement to connect wireless field devices directly to IT networks. An intelligent dual-mode software stack on the wireless node allows a ...

Synchronous LoRa mesh network to monitor processes in underground infrastructure. A novel LPWAN concept based on the LoRa technology that enhances transmission reliability, efficiency, and flexibility in range-critical situations through meshed multi-hop routing and ensures a precise time-synchronization.  ...

The Institute of Embedded Systems and Zurich Instruments are jointly designing a new high-performance platform for digital dynamic signal processing, on which all new ZI products from 2017 onwards will be based. It will replace the previous six-year-old platform. The highly integrated 16-nm semiconductor technology ...

Operational communication systems for command and control centers of transport companies or emergency organizations have to cope with complex connection situations that span networks of different technologies (telephony, trunked radio, mobile radio). The requirements in terms of functionality, performance and ...

Development of the next-generation optical sensor for the measurement of the oxygen gas concentration with very low power consumption. The measuring principle is based on the quenching of the luminescence by oxygen molecules.

New techniques will be investigated and developed for car rental/sharing systems. These techniques will give more comfort, convenience and security to the different users while enabling car rental/sharing firms to better control the leasing and tracking of their vehicles.

Studer's professional audio mixing consoles are well accepted but require expensive components. A new innovation of using the open computing language (OpenCL) for digital audio processing on graphic processors (GPUs) and on FPGAs allow to reuse the existing software investment of Studer's high-end products also for ...

We will investigate and develop technologies to allow the use of the Dynapic Piezo as sole energy source for Wireless Systems based on standard protocols. Features such as very low-power encryption, multi-key and display will be supported. Results will take the form of appropriate concepts, models, circuits, ...

Modern rolling-stock requires a mixture of standard-technology as well as safe and dependable distributed nodes. The latter are expensive due to high validation and certification costs. To reduce costs and increase application flexibility whilst reducing probabilities of failure and enhancing safety, a HW-SW suite ...