Activities 2025_archive

The Fraunhofer lead project ALBACOPTER® is setting new standards in aviation technology. As part of the project, an innovative "smart propeller" was developed that enables predictive condition monitoring of propulsion systems. The technology offers promising approaches for a wide range of industrial applications.

The intelligent propellers can be integrated into drone systems in a variety of ways. The use of drones offers enormous potential for various industries, including

• Agriculture: precise monitoring of fields and accurate application of crop protection products
• Search and rescue: Effective search for missing persons in rough terrain
• Delivery services: Safe and reliable delivery of parcels in all weather conditions

Contribution of the Fraunhofer IOSB

With its expertise from the Measurement, Control and Diagnostic Systems (MRD) and Interoperability and Assistance Systems (IAS) departments, Fraunhofer IOSB is particularly involved in the areas of flight monitoring, functional diagnostics, trajectory planning and remote control, as well as in the creation of a digital twin of the ALBACOPTER® for front loading based on a modular simulation platform.

Read the Fraunhofer IMS press release.

Responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military applications is possible: this is the conclusion of a white paper in which Fraunhofer IOSB and sensor solution provider HENSOLDT have jointly examined three use cases in the field of reconnaissance and surveillance. It is crucial to consistently consider the principles of ethical AI in system design, development and operation.

Under the title “Ethical Considerations for the Military Use of Artificial Intelligence in Visual Reconnaissance”, the study published jointly by the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB and HENSOLDT analyzes how ethical principles such as fairness, traceability, transparency and responsibility can be implemented in the military use of AI.

Read the full press release and the white paper, see tile on the right.

With this event, the German Society for Defense Technology (DWT) invites you to a discussion: War in Europe is once again a reality and the following questions are gaining momentum: What do we need in the future? What capabilities do we want to have in the future? Where do we need to focus our research? And what systems do we need to procure for this?

It already seems certain that the importance of unmanned systems will continue to grow even more. In the air, on land, in water and in space.

The Interoperability and Assistance Systems (IAS) department is represented with the following contributions: 

"Heterogeneous unmanned group of intelligent watercraft"

Speaker: Willmuth Müller 26.03.2025 at 3:00 pm

"Autonomes Cargo VTOL" 

Poster: Matthias Kollmann and Henri Meeß (IVI)

Join leading researchers as they present challenges in detector and sensor systems, infrared, laser systems, spectral imaging, radar, lidar, autonomous systems and other advances in the security and defense industry.

Cooperative, autonomous unmanned systems and their possible applications is a central aspect of our research. The results we present at SPIE will provide a deep insight into out latest developments and real world trial outcomes.

We are represented with the following contributions:

"Flexible mission planning and dynamic reactive autonomy for heterogeneous unmanned vehicles operating in teams"

Referent: Florian Segor

LEARNTEC is Europe's largest event for digital education. Discover the latest learning trends in mobile learning, virtual reality and digital leadership at the most important international platform for digital, lifelong learning. In addition to the trade fair with more than 400 exhibitors, there is also the LEARNTEC Congress with exciting presentations. Over 600 speakers will be available to share their expertise at the trade fair and congress for three days.

We are represented with the following presentations:

“AI support for learning management systems” 

Referent: Alexander Streicher on 08.05.2025 at 15:00 - 15:45 in the conference room 4/5

We look forward to your visit!

Turning point in national security - resilience through disruptive digital solutions

More than 200 renowned specialist companies from 17 nations will be exhibiting. This makes the AFCEA the most important exhibition for information technology in the field of defense and public security in Germany. The Fraunhofer IOSB is represented with 6 exhibits. 

The Interoperability and Assistance Systems (IAS) department is represented with the following topics:

📡 Heterogeneous unmanned group of intelligent watercraft (HUGIN)
Critical maritime infrastructures are often difficult to protect against sabotage, attacks or destruction. HUGIN researched the collaboration and cooperation of intelligent, autonomous watercraft in order to enable the protection of such infrastructures with these technologies in the future in a more efficient and resource-saving manner.

📡 Automated route planning for VTOL systems with the IOSB Pathplanner
In the ALBACOPTER® lead project, the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is developing a flying experimental platform with the VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) capability of a multicopter and the aerodynamic advantages of a glider. The IOSB software application PathPlanner enables flight missions to be planned and the telemetry data relevant to operation to be tracked live. In the ALBACOPTER® lead project, a mobile app-based front end and an on-premise backend infrastructure were us.

📡 ISR Manager Application - Resource-optimized sensor deployment planning
The computer-aided assistance system ISR Manager Application supports the planning of the effective and efficient use of the available reconnaissance resources (sensor/sensor carrier combinations) to cover information requirements and to react flexibly to changing operating conditions.

📡 Coalition Shared Data (CSD) - data and information distribution
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) contributes to the provision of essential information. As no one nation or dimension (land, air, sea, cyber and space) has all the intelligence capabilities, cooperation is essential. The Coalition Shared Data (CSD) concept and its technical equivalent in (NATO) STANAG 4559 enables the timely and needs-based distribution of data and information derived from it.

We look forward to your visit at the Fraunhofer IOSB booth (Room Vienna, W01). Contact persons on site are: Jennifer Sander, Dirk Pallmer and Frank Reinert at the Fraunhofer IOSB booth.

14th International Conference on Human Interaction & Emerging Technologies: Future Systems and Artificial Intelligence Applications

The “Human Interaction & Emerging Technologies” conference series provides a global platform for discussions on new approaches and solutions related to the interaction between humans and computers. Over 5,000 researchers from 48 countries have already taken part in it, focusing on trends and applications in human-machine interaction.

We are involved:

• Session chair on June 11, 2025, at 10:30 - 12:00, in IHIET 4, block
  “Human-Technology and Future of Work I” Lorraine Hagemann 
• Lecture on June 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at IHIET 4:
  "Enabling the Transfer of Large Files Across Security Domains in a Multinational Environment"
  Speaker: Lorraine Hagemann

Abstract:
In our work we focus on the transfer of large files across security domains that include Coalition Shared Data services (defined by STANAG 4559) linked by a specific labeling service and security gateway based on STANAG 4774 and STANAG 4778. Accredited security gateways supporting data exchange often come with limitations e.g. on the file size that can be exchanged. Based on the existing systems, processes and requirements, a concept for the transfer of large files has been developed under consideration of the technical and organizational requirements and constraints. Initial tests of the new approach were carried out in a laboratory demonstrator to demonstrate the fundamental functionality.

AI is regarded as one of the key technologies of the future. It offers the potential to significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness in the capability domains of intelligence and command and control. However, the corresponding tools must be designed in such a way that humans can evaluate information and decisions derived from AI and are able to take control. The seminar will present current developments and research results in the field of AI. Particular attention will be paid to the support of operational processes through suitable architectures and technological developments in a multinational environment.

We are involved:

Scientific management: Jennifer Sander

Speaker:

• Jennifer Sander
• Barbara Essendorfer
• Achim Kuwertz-Wolf
• Almuth Müller
• Igor Tchouchenkov
• Florian Segor

7th International Conference on Human Systems Engineering and Design: Future Trends and Applications (IHSED 2025)  

This interdisciplinary conference will push the boundaries of the current state of the art by exploring the pervasive complexity that underlies the most profound problems facing society today. The IHSI + IHSED International Conference Series takes place twice a year and has collaborations with more than 1000 universities, companies and research centers in 54 countries.

We are involved:

➡️ Lecture on September 23, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., SESSION 3, Room 3:

»Taking Perspective: Broadening Acceptance of a Serious Game Framework«

Speaker:  Ehm Kannegieser

➡️ Chair of the meeting: Lorraine Hagemann September 24, 2025, SESSION 12

»Online Session: Human Computer and System Interaction III« 

➡️ Lecture on September 24, 2025, at 12:00 noon, online:

»Securing Interfaces of a Multinational Standard with Technical Specifications for Data Sharing: Challenges of Authentication and Authorization«

Speaker: Lorraine Hageman

The motto of this year's workshop is:

"The Maritime Battle - Driver for Research, Armaments and Utilization."
This is where research meets directly with the navy, industry and the use of armaments - because only through close cooperation between all players can technical innovations be developed that are both operationally effective and feasible.

We will be there with a poster session.

👉 "Unmanned vehicles - autonomous, intelligent, heterogeneous"  

Referent: Florian Segor

The technological foundations of the "Teaming" AI will be discussed and the possibilities for the further development of our demonstrator will be presented. This includes not only the addition of further capabilities, but also the expansion into the "land" dimension (MDO-ready).

Scientists from various specialist departments of our institute will provide the specialist audience with first-hand information on current and future developments in optronic and IT systems for information acquisition, fusion, distribution and use in a military context. Numerous exhibits and live demos provide hands-on impressions of the possibilities of these technologies.

We are a co-organizer.

Our presentation:

👉 »Kooperative Autonomie heterogener unbemannter Systeme«  

Referent: Wilmuth Müller

Orr demos/exhibis:

👉 AI-supported search in Coalition Shared Data (CSD) networks

👉 UAV mission planning