Awards & Records

May 31, 2022 | Navigation of autonomous robot swarms

DLR Science Award 2021

Dr. Siwei Zhang from the Institute of Communications and Navigation received the DLR Science Award 2021 for his basic research on navigation in a swarm of autonomous robots.

Induction into the 'Space Technology Hall of Fame'

Under the heading "Laser Terminals for the skies and beyond", the laser communication products from Mynaric, a spin-off of the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation, will be inducted into the "Space Technology Hall of Fame".

May 10, 2018 | The goal: broadband supply from space

New world record in optical free-space data transmission

Eighteen months after their last record, scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), this time together with ADVA - provider of open networking solutions - have set a new world record in optical free-space data transmission at 13.16 terabits per second. With this data rate, all the printed books in the world could be transmitted in around half a minute.

November 3, 2016 | DLR technology points the way to global high-speed internet

World record in optical free-space data transmission

Scientists at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have set a new record in laser data transmission: 1.72 terabits per second over a free-space distance of 10.45 kilometers - the equivalent of transmitting 45 DVDs per second. This could provide broadband internet to large parts of rural areas in Western Europe that are still underserved today.

October 28, 2015 | Manfred Fuchs Innovation Award

Innovation Award 2015 for "Intelligence on Wheels"

Based on the Railway Collision Avoidance System (RCAS) research project, Dr. Thomas Strang and Dr. Andreas Lehner at the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation in Oberpfaffenhofen developed a new type of collision avoidance system for trains. As DLR scientists and founders of the company "Intelligence on Wheels (IoW)", they were awarded the Manfred Fuchs Innovation Prize for their work.

October 19, 2015 | One step closer to the dream of eavesdropping security

Erwin Schrödinger Award 2015: Quantum cryptography takes off

A team of scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and LMU Munich (LMU) have succeeded in getting one step closer to the dream of eavesdropping security: They were able to establish a connection using quantum cryptography with a flying platform for the first time.

September 24, 2015 | Innovation award of Stuttgart Airport

Aviation Award 2014 - 2nd Platz

For the first time, Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH presented its award for environmentally friendly aviation. Second place went to the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation for its project on noise reduction at airports through satellite-assisted landing approaches.

July 25, 2014 | Alerting system for the population in the event of a disaster

DPEA German Project Excellence Award 2014

With the "Alert4All" project, the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation qualified for the final of the coveted award, which recognizes excellent projects in terms of both applied project management and project results.

November 12, 2013 | Award of the European rail industry

European Rail Award for Excellence in Safety and Security

The innovative train collision avoidance system RCAS from the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation was honored in London in front of over 600 representatives of the European rail industry.

2011 | Cryptography of the future

Quantum key transmitted from the air to the ground for the first time

For the first time in the world, a so-called "quantum key" has been successfully transmitted using a fast-moving object. The quantum data was sent from an airplane to a ground station using a laser beam. The key exchange based on quantum mechanics is considered absolutely tap-proof.