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Current articles regardless of the topic

Production / 17.7.2025

Autonomous Systems on a Leash

A precisely defined operating environment is not only important for autonomous driving. The Operational Design Domain (ODD) also ensures safety for many other highly automated systems in rail transport, logistics and mobile robotics.

Autonomous Systems

Artificial Intelligence / 9.7.2025

An alliance that benefits customers

Fraunhofer IKS has joined the Fraunhofer Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Alliance. According to the Institute Director Mario Trapp, exchange and collaboration within the alliance make it possible to pool expertise and create synergies - to the benefit of customers.

Fraunhofer Alliance

Portrait Lena Heidemann / 26.6.2025

"I have always tried to give myself the space to just try everything out."

Lena Heidemann has been part of the Fraunhofer IKS since November 2020. She initially joined the institute as a student assistant. Since November 2021, she has been a research engineer in the Industrial Sensing Systems department. Her curiosity, openness and willingness to simply try out new things led her to research.

Portrait Lena Heidemann

Quantum Computing / 25.6.2025

How secure are quantum machine learning systems?

Machine learning models are exposed to malicious external attacks that drastically falsify results and assessments - to the harm of people in safety-critical situations. Defense strategies already exist. But what happens when quantum computing comes into play? Together with partners, Fraunhofer IKS has taken a close look at the first approaches to averting danger.

Quantum Computing

Interview with Edith Holland / 12.6.2025

“Safety is a key aspect for public acceptance of automated driving”

Edith Holland is the new program advisor for Safetronic and chief engineer for functional safety at HORIBA MIRA. In our interview, she spoke about her motivation and the importance of safety for road vehicles today and in the future.

Interview Edith Holland

Automatica 2025 / 12.6.2025

Simplicity meets efficiency: working safely with your robot colleague

Seeing and being seen - this not only counts in the social arena, but also in the efficient and reliable cooperation between humans and robots in industrial production. Fraunhofer IKS will be demonstrating what this is all about in particular at Automatica in Munich at the end of June under the motto: “Simplicity is key”.

automatica 2025

Industrial Automation / 19.5.2025

MBO-KISS: The future of control applications in industry

Can AI revolutionize production control? This is the question the research project MBO-KISS (Methods for Evaluating and Optimizing AI-generated Control Applications Based on the Physical Simulation of Machines and Their Desired Behavior) aims to address. The project has started at the beginning of the year, with a total duration of three years. The goal is to investigate the possible usage of Large Language Models (LLMs) for generating and securely applying control applications in industrial production.

Industrial Automation

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Articles on Autonomous Driving

Interview with Edith Holland / 12.6.2025

“Safety is a key aspect for public acceptance of automated driving”

Edith Holland is the new program advisor for Safetronic and chief engineer for functional safety at HORIBA MIRA. In our interview, she spoke about her motivation and the importance of safety for road vehicles today and in the future.

Interview Edith Holland

Safetronic 2025 / 2.4.2025

Focus on holistic safety for road vehicles

Almost a quarter of a century! To be more precise, Safetronic, the international conference on holistic safety for road vehicles, has been around for 24 years. A lot has happened during this time - and it should stay that way.

Safetronic 2025

AI systems in rail transport / 18.2.2025

Railway AI Systems: The Importance of Operational Design Domain (ODD)

As the railway industry advances, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems has become essential to improve efficiency and enhance the attractiveness of rail transport. However, implementing AI in railway operations comes with several challenges. Ensuring safety is the top priority while simultaneously increasing throughput.

AI systems in rail transport

Autonomous Driving / 16.1.2025

Autonomous Driving - Myths and reality

There are so many myths about autonomous driving and safety in the public debate. We're going to look at four of them here from a US perspective.

Autonomous Driving

Autonomous Driving / 4.12.2024

Where driverless cars still have some catching up to do

Autonomous driving can work well in precisely defined areas of use. Yet if driverless cars are let loose into the free-for-all of everyday road traffic unprepared, difficulties can crop up that these vehicles are not prepared to cope with. Three examples.

driverless car

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Articles on Industry 4.0

Production / 17.7.2025

Autonomous Systems on a Leash

A precisely defined operating environment is not only important for autonomous driving. The Operational Design Domain (ODD) also ensures safety for many other highly automated systems in rail transport, logistics and mobile robotics.

Autonomous Systems

automatica 2025 / 12.6.2025

Simplicity meets efficiency: working safely with your robot colleague

Seeing and being seen - this not only counts in the social arena, but also in the efficient and reliable cooperation between humans and robots in industrial production. Fraunhofer IKS will be demonstrating what this is all about in particular at Automatica in Munich at the end of June under the motto: “Simplicity is key”.

automatica 2025

Industrial Automation / 19.5.2025

MBO-KISS: The future of control applications in industry

Can AI revolutionize production control? This is the question the research project MBO-KISS (Methods for Evaluating and Optimizing AI-generated Control Applications Based on the Physical Simulation of Machines and Their Desired Behavior) aims to address. The project has started at the beginning of the year, with a total duration of three years. The goal is to investigate the possible usage of Large Language Models (LLMs) for generating and securely applying control applications in industrial production.

Industrial Automation

DEEP series, part 4 / 11.4.2025

The process is directed by DEEP

The previous three parts of our series focused on the technologies “under the hood” of DEEP, the Fraunhofer IKS machine learning toolchain. Now, we take a look at the “big picture” in form of the process steps of the DEEP procedure – how DEEP can be used to get a grip on the problems associated with the use of machine learning (ML) for future flexible quality inspection.

DEEP series, part 4

Industry 4.0 / 18.3.2025

Toolbox offers more flexibility in production

The ability of a production system to adapt independently to new circumstances promises efficiency gains and thus cost advantages. This also applies to late change orders in the production process - a case for the new tool set from Fraunhofer IKS for flexible and resilient production.

Toolbox

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Articles on AI in medicine

Artificial Intelligence / 24.4.2025

Can Generative AI Revolutionize Modern Healthcare?

Artificial intelligence and LLMs in particular are seen by many as a beacon of hope for the overburdened healthcare system. Above all, AI-based automation could quickly provide relief for knowledge management routine tasks. Until that happens, problems with security and safety must be solved and legal requirements fulfilled. Fraunhofer IKS research is addressing both of these issues.

Generative AI

Portrait Katie Fitch / 27.3.2025

"The interaction between research and industry inspires me"

Dr. Katie Fitch has been head of the department Trustworthy Digital Health at Fraunhofer IKS since November 2024. Katie's enthusiasm for mathematics led her to the engineering section early on. Then she discovered medical AI research for herself.

Portrait Katie Fitch

AI in Workforce Management / 6.3.2025

Reinforcement Learning Shift Planning Agent Set to Transform Hospital Staffing

Faced with cost pressures and a shortage of healthcare professionals, organizations are challenged to increase efficiency. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into workforce management offers promising approaches. In a joint project, Fraunhofer IKS and ATOSS Software have developed an AI-controlled shift planning agent that automates staff scheduling while demonstrating remarkable scalability.

AI in Workforce Management

Machine learning in medicine / 24.7.2024

Data-driven diagnostics improve the health of premature babies

Babies born prematurely, i.e. before their organs have fully developed, often suffer from various health problems, known as morbidities. These rarely manifest alone, but often occur simultaneously. Researching connections or even patterns in their co-occurrence helps to develop more effective and more personalized care for premature babies. A project report.

Machine learning in medicine

Verification of medical AI systems / 2.4.2024

What do regulations say about your medical diagnostics algorithm?

Regulations and standards for trustworthy AI are in place, and high-risk medical AI systems will be up for audits soon. But how exactly can we translate those high-level rules into technical measures for validating actual code and algorithms? Fraunhofer IKS’s AI verification framework provides a solution.

Medical AI systems

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Articles on cognitive systems

Industrial Automation / 19.5.2025

MBO-KISS: The future of control applications in industry

Can AI revolutionize production control? This is the question the research project MBO-KISS (Methods for Evaluating and Optimizing AI-generated Control Applications Based on the Physical Simulation of Machines and Their Desired Behavior) aims to address. The project has started at the beginning of the year, with a total duration of three years. The goal is to investigate the possible usage of Large Language Models (LLMs) for generating and securely applying control applications in industrial production.

Industrial Automation

ISO 9001 certification / 7.5.2025

Seal of Approval for Research Quality

Jetzt ist es »amtlich«: Das Fraunhofer IKS stellt nachweislich höchste Ansprüche an die Qualität seiner Forschungsarbeit. Das belegt die Zertifizierung nach ISO 9001, die das Institut mit Erfolg bestanden hat.

ISO 9001 certification

DEEP series, part 4 / 11.4.2025

The process is directed by DEEP

The previous three parts of our series focused on the technologies “under the hood” of DEEP, the Fraunhofer IKS machine learning toolchain. Now, we take a look at the “big picture” in form of the process steps of the DEEP procedure – how DEEP can be used to get a grip on the problems associated with the use of machine learning (ML) for future flexible quality inspection.

DEEP series, part 4

Industry 4.0 / 18.3.2025

Toolbox offers more flexibility in production

The ability of a production system to adapt independently to new circumstances promises efficiency gains and thus cost advantages. This also applies to late change orders in the production process - a case for the new tool set from Fraunhofer IKS for flexible and resilient production.

Toolbox

DEEP series, part 3 / 11.3.2025

Subtasks enable solving complex inspection problems

DEEP is a machine learning toolchain by Fraunhofer IKS for the reliable AI-assisted automation of quality inspection systems. For this purpose, DEEP automates various specific Fraunhofer IKS technologies. This part of the series of blog posts focuses on the specific technological contents of modular concept learning.

DEEP series, part 3

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Articles on Artificial Intelligence

automatica 2025 / 12.6.2025

Simplicity meets efficiency: working safely with your robot colleague

Seeing and being seen - this not only counts in the social arena, but also in the efficient and reliable cooperation between humans and robots in industrial production. Fraunhofer IKS will be demonstrating what this is all about in particular at Automatica in Munich at the end of June under the motto: “Simplicity is key”.

automatica 2025

Industrial Automation / 19.5.2025

MBO-KISS: The future of control applications in industry

Can AI revolutionize production control? This is the question the research project MBO-KISS (Methods for Evaluating and Optimizing AI-generated Control Applications Based on the Physical Simulation of Machines and Their Desired Behavior) aims to address. The project has started at the beginning of the year, with a total duration of three years. The goal is to investigate the possible usage of Large Language Models (LLMs) for generating and securely applying control applications in industrial production.

Industrial Automation

Artificial Intelligence / 24.4.2025

Can Generative AI Revolutionize Modern Healthcare?

Artificial intelligence and LLMs in particular are seen by many as a beacon of hope for the overburdened healthcare system. Above all, AI-based automation could quickly provide relief for knowledge management routine tasks. Until that happens, problems with security and safety must be solved and legal requirements fulfilled. Fraunhofer IKS research is addressing both of these issues.

Generative AI

DEEP series, part 4 / 11.4.2025

The process is directed by DEEP

The previous three parts of our series focused on the technologies “under the hood” of DEEP, the Fraunhofer IKS machine learning toolchain. Now, we take a look at the “big picture” in form of the process steps of the DEEP procedure – how DEEP can be used to get a grip on the problems associated with the use of machine learning (ML) for future flexible quality inspection.

DEEP series, part 4

Industry 4.0 / 18.3.2025

Toolbox offers more flexibility in production

The ability of a production system to adapt independently to new circumstances promises efficiency gains and thus cost advantages. This also applies to late change orders in the production process - a case for the new tool set from Fraunhofer IKS for flexible and resilient production.

Toolbox

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Articles on quantum computing

Quantum Computing / 25.6.2025

How secure are quantum machine learning systems?

Machine learning models are exposed to malicious external attacks that drastically falsify results and assessments - to the harm of people in safety-critical situations. Defense strategies already exist. But what happens when quantum computing comes into play? Together with partners, Fraunhofer IKS has taken a close look at the first approaches to averting danger.

Quantum Computing

International Year of Quatum Science / 11.2.2025

Quantum Computing Comes Knocking on the Door of Business

The United Nations has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. This is to recall and celebrate the fact that 100 years have now elapsed since the beginnings of quantum mechanics. It is an occasion for a critical review and an optimistic preview of quantum computing technology, including from the point of view of business.

Year of Quantum Science

Machine Learning / 6.5.2024

Formal Verification of Neural Networks with Quantum Computers

Neural networks are not robust. The development of reliable predictors requires systematic methods to both assess their quality and to gain confidence in their correctness. Quantum computing can help here.

Machine Learning

The Future of Problem-Solving / 22.1.2024

Quantum Optimization's Promise, Pitfalls, and Progress

Quantum computing represents a frontier in computational technology, offering unparalleled potential for solving complex problems. However, this revolutionary field is not without its challenges. In this blog post, we will explore the vast potential of quantum optimization, identify the key challenges that lie ahead, and discuss strategies for navigating the path forward in this exciting domain.

The Future of Problem-Solving

Machine Learning / 3.11.2023

Quantum computing helps reinforcement learning to take off

Reinforcement learning is often the most suitable AI solution for a range of applications in the sectors of autonomous systems, healthcare, and communication, due to the training method. Nevertheless, the nature of these tasks makes data collection potentially resource intensive or in some cases even unachievable. This is where reinforcement learning could benefit from embedding quantum computing methods since hybrid quantum-classical reinforcement learning was empirically shown to need less training steps to reach convergence. Fraunhofer IKS is researching solutions that are also suitable for use in industry.

QC and ML

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Articles on safety engineering

Production / 17.7.2025

Autonomous Systems on a Leash

A precisely defined operating environment is not only important for autonomous driving. The Operational Design Domain (ODD) also ensures safety for many other highly automated systems in rail transport, logistics and mobile robotics.

Autonomous Systems

Interview with Edith Holland / 12.6.2025

“Safety is a key aspect for public acceptance of automated driving”

Edith Holland is the new program advisor for Safetronic and chief engineer for functional safety at HORIBA MIRA. In our interview, she spoke about her motivation and the importance of safety for road vehicles today and in the future.

Interview Edith Holland

Artificial Intelligence / 24.4.2025

Can Generative AI Revolutionize Modern Healthcare?

Artificial intelligence and LLMs in particular are seen by many as a beacon of hope for the overburdened healthcare system. Above all, AI-based automation could quickly provide relief for knowledge management routine tasks. Until that happens, problems with security and safety must be solved and legal requirements fulfilled. Fraunhofer IKS research is addressing both of these issues.

Generative AI

Safetronic 2025 / 2.4.2025

Focus on holistic safety for road vehicles

Almost a quarter of a century! To be more precise, Safetronic, the international conference on holistic safety for road vehicles, has been around for 24 years. A lot has happened during this time - and it should stay that way.

Safetronic 2025

DEEP series, part 1 / 18.12.2024

Reliable AI Enables Automation of Quality Inspection in Industry

Machine learning (ML) is considered a promising technology for the automation of quality control in production environments, even if the requirements are complex. However, ML approaches require sufficiently large datasets for training of the system, which are often unavailable. The ML toolchain DEEP (Date Efficient Evaluation Platform) from Fraunhofer IKS addresses this challenge.

DEEP series, part 1

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Articles on smart farming

Smart Farming

Digital transformation takes the field

As farmers step up their use of information and communication technology, agriculture is not only becoming more efficient, but also more sustainable and resilient. A Fraunhofer IKS webinar explored some different solutions and strategies in the field of smart farming.

Smart Farming

Future mobility

Autonomous locomotion in business use

When we think about autonomous vehicles, we usually think of self-driving cars where people are mere passengers. In the business domain, however, their potential lies in logistics. New technologies could fundamentally change the transportation of goods, making it safer and more efficient. An overview of the current status of a variety of autonomous vehicles in industry.

Future mobility

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