Institute for Product and Service Engineering (IPSE)

We use state-of-the-art algorithms to support the development of products and industrial solutions. This includes the use of classic algorithms as well as artificial intelligence methods.

We combine both into hybrid modeling in order to design and validate the desired solution as accurately as possible at a very early stage.

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Engler

In industrial manufacturing processes, there is a desire for a 100% inspection that can be carried out automatically, non-destructively, with little effort and within the product-specific cycle time, without generating pseudo rejects.

One method is the measurement of Barkhausen noise, which is currently used for inline testing. It is investigated whether a specific production parameter can be precisely assigned to the measured signal curve. Knowing what influences/changes the signal in detail makes it possible to actively and automatically intervene in processes.

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Krause

Albert Einstein knew it a long time ago − “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I would spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about the solution”.

This describes one of the basic ideas of design thinking and the necessary user-centricity quite well. We are supported in our research at HFU by a Internal link opens in the same window:Design Thinking Lab that is now well established. The research question that drives us is − How can we further develop design thinking approaches, rethink them and transform them in industry, as well as provide students with efficient tools for their careers as developers?

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr. Uwe Kenntner

The complexity of products, services and business models is constantly increasing. Many specifications and constraints need to be taken into account and different domains need to be merged into one system.

At the same time, the corporate culture, organisations and methods must also evolve. And in some cases, different philosophies need to be harmonised. The research question that drives us is − How can holistic product development be ensured and how must the organization develop in parallel?

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr. Uwe Kenntner

“The ability to innovate determines our fate”, as former German President Roman Herzog once said. However, German companies, with the automotive industry serving as a current example, find it very difficult to do so.

Our aim is to further develop theoretical approaches and transfer them to industry. The research question that drives us is − How can we further develop current innovation concepts and how can an efficient transformation into industry take place?

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr. Uwe Kenntner

Design, simulation, analysis and experimental validation of optical systems

In our Optical Systems, Laser Metrology and Imaging Metrology research department, we offer you the opportunity to design optical systems and accompany them in corresponding simulations. At the same time, we are able to experimentally validate the simulation results in the prototype in our Internal link opens in the same window:Optics Lab.

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kallmann

We conduct research into methods and processes relating to product development and the validation of technical systems. We are experts in physical and virtual validation.

One focus is on the implementation of virtual models whose behavior is validated by real experiments. A modern Internal link opens in the same window:Powertrain Laboratory with test benches and hardware for measurements is available for these physical experiments.

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Jäger

The Service Innovation research area, which currently has eight team members, focuses on the design and development of innovative services using modern technologies. Among other things, the department is a funded “Smart Services Competence Center” in Baden Württemberg.

The research focus is on smart services, extended reality and artificial intelligence in the context of product-service systems and transformed business models.

Contact persons:

• Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian van Husen
• Internal link opens in the same window:Isger Glauninger

In the Service Technologies and Operations research area, we deal with new processes and technologies that improve service delivery. In doing so, we consider technological maturity, the contribution to efficiency and the impact on the working environment.

Our focus is on business-to-business services, where security, compliance and technology are challenging.

Our services include:

• technology scouting
• technology assessment
• prototype development
• user-centered testing

 The Internal link opens in the same window:Industrial Solutions Lab is an integral part of our work.

Contact persons:

• Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Katja Gutsche
• Internal link opens in the same window:Carsten Droll, MBA

The core of the work is the development of a new field concentrator material that can be used efficiently for industrial applications of electromagnetic induction at high frequencies and high field strengths.

This will reduce the current high energy loss in the transmission of electromagnetic fields and make an important contribution to the future field of “resource efficiency” in particular.

Contact: Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Krause