Topics

Terramechanics

The Institute conducts basic research into modelling the ground interaction of planetary exploration systems. The wheel-ground interaction, taking into account dynamic deformation effects, plays a major role here.

Robotic exploration

Simulation expertise for robotic planetary exploration is continuously being built up at the Institute. The expert knowledge is made available in the form of model libraries and applied in the context of space missions with planetary rovers (e.g. ExoMars Rover; ESA), asteroid landers (e.g. MASCOT Mobility Unit; JAXA) or penetration systems (e.g. InSight HP3; NASA).

On-Orbit-Servicing

The Institute develops models and technologies for the robotic maintenance, repair and disposal of satellites. Activities include the verification and improvement of satellite docking systems and the design of "Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC)" strategies for service satellites. The availability of highly accurate and flexible multi-body and contact dynamics models plays a decisive role here.

Reusable Launcher

European launcher systems, such as Ariane and Vega, are being continuously developed in international cooperation. In this context, the Institute is involved in the preliminary design, evaluation and optimisation of current and future reusable launcher systems based on the findings from system simulation.

ROboMObil

The ROboMObil is an electromobility concept based on the intelligent centralised control of four wheeled robots that integrate the drivetrain, brakes, steering and dampers.

Aircraft power systems

In current commercial aircraft, all systems are supplied with hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy. For decades, however, there has been a development trend towards the so-called "More Electric Aircraft", i.e. an electrified aircraft in which more and more systems are supplied with electrical energy. The Institute develops methods and tools for the model-based development, optimisation, evaluation and control of such highly integrated systems.

Flight control

The design and optimisation of control systems play a key role in improving the environmental friendliness, economy and safety of future generations of aircraft. Automatic flight control systems enable active stabilisation and reduction of the structural load on the entire aircraft and make it possible to design aerodynamically more efficient aircraft configurations with significantly lighter structures.

Flight dynamics and loads

The analysis of flight dynamics and structural loads forms the basis for the design optimisation of new environmentally friendly and highly efficient aircraft configurations and their flight control systems. The institute develops automated processes and tools for multidisciplinary modelling, simulation and efficient analysis of controlled, flexible aircraft.

Automated driving

Safety, comfort and the responsible use of natural resources are the focus of work in relation to road and rail vehicles, in which the research fields of energy management, driving dynamics and vehicle intelligence are addressed. In these fields in particular, the opportunities offered by electromobility are to be utilised and their establishment supported by research.

Train of the future

As the need for decarbonisation becomes ever more pressing, the Institute's research in the area of rail transport of the future is helping to counteract the steady growth in transport volumes by increasing the proportion of rail transport.