DLR at Han­nover Messe 2023

"The application of knowledge, technology and research findings to concrete needs in industry and society enables us to address major challenges in difficult times. DLR will be demonstrating the underlying processes at Hannover Messe 2023. Whether it's know-how for the energy and mobility transition, the latest production technologies for the factory of the future or dynamic start-ups transferring expertise from DLR to the market – research, transfer and application go hand in hand for the benefit of industry and society," says Karsten Lemmer, Member of the DLR Executive Board responsible for Innovation, Transfer and Scientific Infrastructure.

New at the DLR stand – live podcasts on fuels of the future and start-ups

In collaboration with DLR, podcaster Daniel Finger talks about exciting research topics in his series 'From Earth to Space' ('Von der Erde ins All'). On 18 April 2023, he will record two new episodes live at the DLR stand at Hannover Messe – visitors will be able to watch and listen. DLR researchers will be on hand to provide a glimpse into research and their roles in important topics. Whether solar fuels, electricity-based fuels or biofuels, the focus at 10:00 will be on the fuels of the future. At 14:00, the second live podcast will explore how research can be transferred into successful innovations and spin-offs. After the recording, both podcast episodes will be available for listening on all common platforms.

All information on DLR locations and exhibits can be found on the dedicated DLR webpage for Hannover Messe.

Solar Fuels – DLR technologies for industrial production

One thematic highlight at Hannover Messe will be the development of technical components and processes for the production of solar fuels. These components close the technological gap between fundamental research, transfer and industrial application in the field of alternative, climate-compatible fuels.

Solar fuels can be produced in a carbon-neutral manner from solar energy, water and carbon. DLR is researching the solar technologies that are used to convert them into electricity and other fuels. An interactive exhibit will demonstrate to visitors how this works: heliostat fields capture sunlight and concentrate it on a central point high up in a solar tower. In the tower is a special reactor developed by DLR in which temperatures exceed 1000 degrees Celsius. This sets thermochemical processes in motion that can, for example, separate hydrogen from oxygen. Alternatively, synthesis gases can be produced from carbon dioxide and water. They can be used in metal, cement or fertilizer production processes and are the basis for alternative, climate-friendly fuels.

These fuels – in addition to alternative drives and other technological improvements – are necessary to achieve ambitious climate protection targets in the mobility sector. In the aviation sector, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are the most promising solution, especially for long-haul flights.

Research for the mobility of the future – automated driving, smart sector coupling and electric flying

For the mobility of the future, DLR uses its Test Bed Lower Saxony to develop solutions for automated and connected driving under realistic conditions. Using augmented reality glasses, visitors to the DLR stand can experience the 280-kilometer-long research platform. The test field's cameras and sensors produce more data than any other test field in the world. Researchers are also using augmented reality to visually display the test field's vast amounts of data. The findings from the Test Bed Lower Saxony are helping research and industry to further advance the approval of highly automated driving functions.

The higher proportion of renewable energies used within the power grid, the more flexible this network must be. One measure to improve this flexibility is the clever coupling of the electricity, heat and mobility sectors. Vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells can feed electricity and heat into stationary distribution grids as needed or be used as a mobile source of electricity or heating. An interactive DLR model will show visitors how sector coupling can function in everyday life based on the charging status of a battery-powered car. The charging stations within a house recharge the vehicle batteries or feed electricity back into the grid as needed. An intelligent charging management system controls the individual charging processes and prevents the power grid from being overloaded.

Another interactive exhibit will illustrate DLR's expertise in the field of climate-friendly flying. The concepts and technologies presented cover different aircraft sizes and areas of application. They are based on fuel cell propulsion, direct combustion of hydrogen or sustainable synthetic aviation fuels.

DLR spin-offs – young companies with a lot of momentum

The DLR stand will also present two DLR spin-off companies – Leverage Robotics and Volateq. Leverage Robotics develops robotic assembly stations for the automation of small and medium-sized series production. At these stations, humans and machines work together efficiently and safely as part of the 'factory of the future'. These automation solutions are intended to make small and medium-sized companies in particular more competitive. At Hannover Messe, the 'Flexible Robot Station' ('Flexible Roboterstation') exhibit will showcase the latest methods, technologies and system components used to significantly reduce setup times and drastically cut costs.

The company Volateq offers user-friendly software capable of intelligent image analysis to automatically record and monitor the condition of solar power plants when combined with commercially available drones. This allows photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants to be optimally operated and maintained. Damaged areas can also be quickly detected, as can the degree of contamination of solar cells and leaks of the heat transfer medium in the collectors of solar thermal power plants. Volateq creates custom flight routes for the measurements and makes them available to the customer. This enables fast, robust and simple data collection and thus user-friendly integration into the operating routine of the power plants. After the automated image analysis, the results about the condition of the power plant can be viewed in a specially developed web app.

DLR careers, the DLR Projektträger and the search for bed rest study participants

For clever minds who want to help research technologies for the world of tomorrow, DLR's personnel marketing will be present to provide information on jobs and career opportunities. The DLR Projektträger (project management agency) will also be present in its capacity as a service provider for innovation in Germany and Europe. The DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine will provide information and search for participants for bed rest studies.

Hydrogen + Fuel Cell Europe Exhibition – a focus on hydrogen

A second DLR stand within the 'Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe' exhibition area (Hall 13, D13) will showcase DLR's current projects related to hydrogen. The focus is on fuel cells, batteries and electrolysers for stationary and mobile applications, and their use as an alternative propulsion option in aviation and shipping in particular.

Spaceflight and its applications – DLR contributions to a larger framework programme

As usual, DLR will be represented at the Hannover Messe conference programme by high-ranking speakers from the field of space research and its industrial applications. On the Tech Transfer Conference Stage (Hall 2, Stand A60), Felix Huber, Director of Space Operations and Astronaut Training, will speak on the security of orbital infrastructure (17 April 2023, from 15:40 to 16:05). He will also participate in the panel discussion Space Technology (III) [Space Technologie (III)]: Potential for Industry (17 April 2023, from 17:45 to 18:30). Lisa Wörner of the Institute of Quantum Technologies will provide insight into research and orbital applications of quantum technologies (17 April 2023, from 16:45 to 17:05).

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