New Bottom-Up Projects Launched at ICM: Six Research Approaches for the Mobility and Production of the Future

FastSHG: Ultrafast Flexible Frequency Doubling

Lasers are key technologies in modern production processes but are mostly used with fixed wavelengths. FastSHG develops a compact module that allows a laser's wavelength to be adjusted flexibly, precisely, and quickly. A pulsed infrared laser (IR) can be converted into visible light (VIS) as needed, with both the ratio of infrared to visible radiation and the timing of pulses adjustable. This provides users with a versatile multi-wavelength tool that can be optimally adapted to different materials and processing tasks, enabling new, efficient process strategies.

• Project website

LOGbiotik: Control System for Bio-Intelligent Logistics and Production

Future bio-intelligent production systems are intended to operate flexibly, decentrally, resiliently, and resource-efficiently—similar to biological systems. Traditional control systems reach their limits in this context. LOGbiotik develops a biologically inspired control system that dynamically organizes production and logistics networks. Production units act autonomously, temporarily form clusters depending on tasks, reorganize themselves, or return resources to cycles after use. Companies benefit from more robust processes, lower resource and energy consumption, and a central technological foundation for bio-intelligent and sustainable production systems.

• Project website

BiFra-EM: Bionically Inspired Fractal Structures for Future Electric Motors

The efficiency and power density of electric machines strongly depend on the air gap between rotor and stator. BiFra-EM investigates how fractal, bionically inspired surface structures can optimize this air gap. By increasing the effective interaction surface, magnetic flux can be improved without fundamentally changing machine concepts. The project provides essential insights for electric motor development, with potential applications ranging from e-mobility to sustainable aviation.

• Project website

APTree+: Autonomous Task and Motion Planning for Robots in Flexible Manufacturing

In industrial practice, robot tasks are often still planned manually and are difficult to adapt to new products or process changes. Even small changes can lead to high effort and errors. APTree+ develops approaches that allow multiple robots to independently plan, adjust, and coordinate their tasks and movements, even under changing production conditions. The basis for this is intelligent decision structures and novel communication protocols between planners and robots. Companies benefit from greater flexibility, reduced planning effort, and more scalable automation.

• Project website
   

ProWin: Programmable Windings for Electric Machines

Electric machines in modern electric vehicles are currently designed with fixed-wiring windings. This standard solution is a compromise since it is never optimal for all operating points. ProWin investigates the potential of programmable windings, whose configuration can be adjusted during operation. The aim is to systematically assess efficiency gains, additional losses, and technical feasibility and demonstrate them in a prototype. In the long term, programmable windings enable more efficient, higher-power-density drives with greater range, lower weight, and smaller dimensions.

• Project website

AddEcoJet: Sustainable Metal Powders for Additive Manufacturing

In metal-powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes, large amounts of coarse metal powders are produced during powder production but are hardly utilized. This increases material costs for AM feedstocks and reduces the economic viability of many processes. AddEcoJet investigates how these coarse powders can be used in binder jetting processes. Through targeted powder modification and optimized sintering strategies, component density, strength, and surface quality can be significantly improved. This reduces material costs, increases powder processing efficiency, and strengthens the competitiveness of binder jetting as a scalable, metal-powder-based manufacturing method.

• Project website

With these new bottom-up projects, ICM expands its research portfolio with visionary approaches that address central future questions in mobility and production and open up new technological development pathways.