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Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

Research

On this page we present current contributions to research in electrical engineering and information technology

(Deutsch) Neuromorphic hardware : Kick of event in January

The NeuroSys future cluster at RWTH enters its second phase

At the beginning of this year, the Cluster4Future NeuroSys (Neuromorphic Hardware for Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Systems) is entering its second phase.
The Clusters4Future initiative is part of the German government’s High-Tech Strategy 2025 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

At the kick-off event at the end of January, more than 90 participants discussed their ideas and technologies for the development of neuromorphic hardware in the Super C at RWTH Aachen University.

Neuromorphic systems are modelled on the basic building blocks of the brain, neurons and synapses. Neuromorphic hardware is a resource-saving but powerful basis for energy-intensive artificial intelligence research operations. The aim is to create a technology basis for neuromorphic components and alogrithms, building on the basic research carried out at RWTH Aachen University and the Jülich Research Centre. The coordinator of the future cluster is Professor Max Lemme, Head of the Chair of Electronic Components at RWTH Aachen University.

Learning neuromorphic AI chips could soon enable energy-efficient on-site data processing and thus offer promising prospects for future working methods, smart city concepts and the Internet of Things. Various contributions from autonomous driving to learning systems and personalised medicine will also be delivered.

The second phase of the project is planned for three years and will see RWTH collaborating with a wide range of experts from research and industry.


Further information on the project can be found here

Degree programme survey 2025

I have something to say, Illustration

Every six years, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology organises a student survey, which is of particular importance for the quality assurance of academic teaching.

The aim of the degree programme survey is to improve the quality of studies based on feedback from students enrolled in the following subjects

o Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

o Electrical Engineering with orientation semester

o Computer Engineering

And since everything is interconnected, the students of Business Administration and Engineering: Electrical Power Engineering are being consulted as well.

The survey enables students to reflect on their personal study experience and to evaluate the study conditions. In order to ensure a valid database for the quality assurance of studies and teaching, every single piece of feedback is valuable. In this way, today’s students contribute to the advancement of academic teaching and enable future generations of students to build on their experiences.

‘Our students are absolute insiders when it comes to our courses. So who better to advise us on the direction in which we need to develop our teaching,’ says Martina Dahm, Managing Director of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.

In recognition of their efforts, a prize draw will be held for all participating students. The prizes consist of ten vouchers per 100 participants, each worth €50, which can be redeemed either as a credit for the RWTH shop or as a gift voucher for Schenk Lokal. Contact details are kept in a separate record for this purpose, independent of survey content. So responses are processed without reference to individuals, ensuring anonymity.


The online survey can be accessed via a personalised link sent to students by email, which allows them to complete the survey on mobile devices or on the desktop. It is also possible to access the questionnaire via the dashboard of the RWTHmoodle accounts. There the questionnaire is easiest to complete on the desktop.

Invitation to the 31st Energy Technology Evening

© Nikolai Wolff

In cooperation with the VDE Aachen University Group, VDE Regio Aachen e.V. is organising the 31st Energy Technology Evening on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.

This evening’s guest speaker, Dr Christoph Schneiders, who occupies the position of Head of Grid Management and System Control at Amprion GmbH and who is a former student of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at RWTH Aachen University, will deliver a presentation on the current challenges, opportunities and news from the areas of grid expansion, grid stability and the energy transition.

„This is certainly a highly topical social issue in view of the forthcoming general election“, comments Can Özmaden, training officer at VDE Regio Aachen e. V..

The presentation will be followed by a get-together where the technical discussions can be continued in a more relaxed atmosphere. Participation in the event is free of charge, drinks and snacks will be provided free of charge.


The event will take place at 18:30 in the EA lecture hall, Schinkelstraße 6, 52062 Aachen. Informal registration is requested by e-mail to: info@vde-aachen.de

‘Colloquium Biomedical Engineering and Related Fields’ – Invitation to the current lecture

The lecture, entitled ‘Mobility in older adults‘, will be moderated by Professor Steffen Leonhardt, Chair holder of the Medical Information Technology (MedIT) at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, on Thursday, 30 January 2025.

Professor Wiebren Zijlstra, Head of the Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology at the German Sport University Cologne, will deliver a presentation on factors which underly age-related changes in mobility based on experimental laboratory-based studies as well as studies of real-life mobility.

In the abstract that precedes the lecture, Professor Zijlstra outlines the various challenges presented by mobility in daily life, such as finding the way to a target location, while ensuring safe progression by continuously perceiving the environment and adapting locomotion if needed, e.g. in order to avoid potential collisions with obstacles, other pedestrians, or traffic. Such adaptive control of locomotion requires physical and cognitive functions and, even without overt pathological conditions, age-related changes in functioning may cause older persons to show a reduced mobility and an increased fall risk. Mobility limitations are associated with reduced quality-of-life, a plethora of negative health outcomes, and an increased morbidity and mortality. According to Professor Zijlstra, it is important to understand factors that contribute to an age-related reduction in mobility and when possible develop effective interventions.

„Results of recent studies show that physical capacity alone is poor in predicting older adults’ mobility performance in real-life. Other studies show that age-related changes in cognition, especially the so-called executive functions, are associated with a reduced mobility and an increased fall-risk,“ the specialist points out.

Executive functions are crucial for adaptive locomotion, as they enable a person to monitor behaviour in relation to the environment and to adapt behaviour when necessary. By focusing on two key components of executive functions (cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control), this talk will also present recent results from studies that aim to better understand the role of cognitive control during mobility-related tasks.

Despite an abundance of mobility studies and increasing insight in factors that negatively impact on mobility in older persons, it is yet unclear to what degree the combination of these factors predicts real-life mobility, Professor Zijlstra continues in his apstract. Only a limited number of recent studies considered various potential mobility determinants by combining measures from physical, cognitive, and psycho-social functioning.

„These studies showed that real-life mobility cannot yet be predicted very well. Taken together, these findings necessitate more well-focused studies of real-life mobility in various groups of older adults, as well as experimental studies of older adults’ performance of complex mobility tasks which resemble daily life conditions,“ he concludes.

The ‘Colloquium on Biomedical Engineering and Related Areas’ is a regular series of events organised by RWTH Aachen University. The objective of the series is to facilitate interdisciplinary education in these fields and to encourage the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas.

A cordial invitation is extended to all students, clinicians, engineers and scientists to attend this illuminating lecture and engage in discourse with experts in the field of biomedical engineering.


The event will take place from 5 to 5:45 pm at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany, seminar room 2.70. It will be coordinated by Prof. Dr. Klaus Radermacher, Chair of Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University. For further information please contact the secretariat at meditec@hia.rwth-aachen.de or call +49-(0)241-80 23870.

Back to the roots

This portrait shows a man smiling and wearing a light blue shirt. His arms are crossed in front of his chest.

Professor Simon Steentjes, a former student of RWTH Aachen University and the current holder of the Chair of Electrical Machines and Drives ©Christian Schneider

Professor Simon Steentjes returned to his academic roots in October 2024 to become holder of the Chair of Electrical Machines and Drives.

The 37-year-old professor’s passion for technology was cultivated during his childhood, and led him to RWTH Aachen University for the first time in 2006. Here, he successfully completed his studies in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, subsequently earning his doctorate under the supervision of his predecessor, Professor Kay Hameyer.

„I learned from an early age to repair things instead of throwing them away. My father showed me everything as a child. We often tinkered until things worked again,” recalls Professor Steentjes.

It was these formative experiences that not only ignited his enthusiasm for technology, but also instilled in him a strong commitment to sustainability.

„I want to leave behind a world worth living in for my child and future generations; thus, I consider sustainable development within electric machines and drives absolutely essential,” states the electrical engineer.

Electrical machines are indispensable for numerous applications – from industrial facilities, mobility solutions, and household appliances to energy supply systems. As such, enhancing the efficiency of electric machines and drives represents a significant opportunity for reducing CO₂ emissions – a crucial step toward protecting our climate, according to Steentje. He emphasizes that ongoing research and innovation are essential to enhance power density, torque density, efficiency levels, and manufacturing techniques while maintaining resource efficiency when integrating new technologies. Steentjes believes that we also need to gain a deeper understanding of the materials and resources used to manufacture our electrical machines to optimize their sustainability and efficiency. The use and production of magnetic materials alone – integral components found within every electrical machine – offers vast potential for optimization that must first be thoroughly understood by researchers like himself.

„To date, little attention has been paid to the advances made by the various disciplines involved or to specific components. While manufacturing technology evolves rapidly, these advancements must also inform production methods and design choices surrounding electric machines to harness opportunities for improved efficiency fully,“ the engineer points out.

Simon Steentjes is a researcher through and through. He relishes engaging with fellow researchers on pressing questions while finding solutions collaboratively, often alongside students and doctoral candidates – a dynamic he finds immensely rewarding. For him, working with young minds means fostering fresh ideas that keep him on the cutting edge. He finds it wonderful to be back in teaching.

The electrical engineer returned to academia having worked in industry before. At Audi, he was actively involved in e-mobility from the very beginning. Later, at Hilti, he took on the role of head of electric motors and drive technology in 2022, leading the development of a new electric motor platform for power tools, from concept to mass production, among other initiatives. During this time, Professor Steentjes experienced how crucial practical feedback is for designing and developing electrical machines, particularly in addressing the needs and challenges inherent of series production.

During his time in industry, he supervised around 20 doctoral theses. Publishing scientific work remained a priority for him despite his time away from academia – a clear indication that he always intended to return. Steentjes considers himself lucky to have turned his hobby into a career. He believes it’s important to do what makes you happy. And it is this attitude that he passes on to his students:

„As a professor, you have a responsibility to equip the next generation with knowledge, to motivate and encourage them to trust in their own abilities.“

He has now found his way back to academia. His return means also a personal success: Returning to RWTH Aachen University was a very personal mission for him, which he worked towards with the help of his family. The support of his family is particularly important to the husband and father. And when he’s not researching new electrical machines or drives, he likes to work with his son on motorising Lego vehicles.

 

‘Colloquium Biomedical Engineering and Related Fields’ – Invitation to the current lecture

The lecture, entitled ‘Electrical impedance of muscle: from muscular dystrophy to Mars’, will be moderated by Professor Steffen Leonhardt, Chair holder of the Medical Information Technology (MedIT) at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, on Wednesday, 25 September 2024.

In his presentation, Dr Seward B. Rutkove, Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School Chair, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, will talk about innovations in the field of skeletal muscle electrical impedance. His lecture will focus on primary disorders that impact muscle, including muscular dystrophies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscle injury and the effects of unloading, such as those caused by microgravity or partial gravity. He will then discuss methods and technologies for measurement, and review the data collected in a wide range of conditions in both human and animal models.

„It is necessary to clarify which analytical approaches are currently available and in which direction future research will go“,
indicates Dr Rutkove in his abstract, setting the scene for the discussion that will follow.

The ‘Colloquium on Biomedical Engineering and Related Areas’ is a regular series of events organised by RWTH Aachen University. The objective of the series is to facilitate interdisciplinary education in these fields and to encourage the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas.

A cordial invitation is extended to all students, clinicians, engineers and scientists to attend this illuminating lecture and engage in discourse with experts in the field of biomedical engineering.


The event will take place from 5 to 5:45 pm at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany, seminar room 2.70. It will be coordinated by Prof. Dr. Klaus Radermacher, Chair of Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University. For further information please contact the secretariat at meditec@hia.rwth-aachen.de or call +49-(0)241-80 23870.

Team AixSense successful in the SensUs competition 2024

This years AixSense team at the SensUs competition 2024

This years AixSense team at the SensUs competition 2024 ©RWTH


The RWTH team impresses with its biosensor for monitoring kidney failure

For the seventh time already, the 15 students of the AixSense team successfully took part in the SensUs competition, organised by Eindhoven University of Technology. This year, 18 teams competed against each other in the international competition with their point-of-care (PoC) biosensor solutions for the real-time detection of creatinine for monitoring acute kidney failure. The AixSense team also included 3 students from the Japanese partner university Tokyo Institute of Technology.

This year, AixSense won three out of five categories with its PoC and also took second place in the technological innovation and technical feasibility categories. Particularly noteworthy is the performance in the area of public relations and scientific communication: the team from Aachen received the Vlog Award for their video diary and AixSense also won the public voting for the Public Inspirations Award.

The Institute for Materials in Electrical Engineering 1 at RWTH Aachen University has been involved in the competition since 2018. Every year, Professor Sven Ingebrandt and Dr. Vivek Pachauri put together a team from various degree programmes. The team is supported by various structures and profile areas at RWTH, such as the Lab center for micro and nanotechnology (ZMNT), which advises the team on technical issues.

The annual competition encourages international and interdisciplinary collaboration in fields such as electrical engineering and micro-nanotechnology, transformative materials, biology, engineering and medical sciences, among others.


Interested parties can apply for the SensUs 2025 competition at pachauri@iwe1.rwth-aachen.de until November 2024.

Visit from Professor Mohamend-Ali Belabbas

PrPiktogramm Qualitaetofessor Mohamed-Ali Belabbas, this year’s winner of the ‘Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award’ from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, is visiting the Chair of Intelligent Control Systems during August.

The Chair of Intelligent Control Systems will be the host during the funding period.
We congratulate the award winner and wish him a pleasant stay.

Further information on the sponsorship can be found on the website of the Alexander von Humbold Foundation.

60 Years | IKS

Man on stage behind the lectern, next to him helium-filled balloons forming a 60.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Jax, Head of the Institute of Communication Systems.  © IKS

On 14 June 2024, the Institute of Communication Systems (IKS) celebrated its 60th anniversary.

This anniversary was celebrated together with project partners, colleagues and numerous alumni in a festive colloquium and evening event. The event provided an insight into the development of digital speech and audio communication. It was also an opportunity to look back over the past six decades and to discuss future challenges and opportunities in the field of communication systems.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported the Institute over the past 60 years and look forward to many more successful years,” the IKS announced.

Professor Jax has led the Institute since 2015. He initiated a new name and a research focus on modern digital communication systems. Research continues to focus on speech and audio communication as probably the most important and natural link between us humans. The research deals with signal processing in communication systems, e.g. in hearing aids, hearables or immersive 3D telephony. The aim is to make digital communication systems as natural as “direct” face-to-face speech communication. Both model-based digital signal processing and machine learning methods are used in innovative hybrid solutions.

Two men, standing on the stage and shaking hands in congratulations.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Albert Moser, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marc Adrat, Research Group Manager for Software Defined Radio (SDR) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE) in Wachtberg and lecturer at the IKS at RWTH Aachen University.  © IKS

One of the highlights of the event was the formal appointment of Marc Adrat as Honorary Professor. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Software Defined Radio, which involves programmable digital radio systems where essential transmission functions such as coding, error correction, modulation, and synchronization are implemented via software. His teaching activities focus on modern error-correcting channel coding in the course „Modern Channel Coding for Wireless Communications“, which is offered as part of the regular „Master’s programme in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology“.

“His expertise and commitment will undoubtedly continue to have a significant impact on the quality of our teaching and research,” stated the IKS.

The appointment will also strengthen the collaboration between the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics.

Man, standing on stage in front of a presentation slide and behind a lectern, giving a lecture.

Oliver Steil, former employee of the IKS and current CEO of TeamViewer.  © IKS

Another highlight was Oliver Steil’s presentation entitled “Digital Twins, AI, Spatial Computing, et al. – How Software is Finally Driving Industrial Digitalization”. He also spoke about his personal career, which is rooted in the Institute and ultimately led Oliver Steil to his current position as CEO of TeamViewer. The guest of honour provided fascinating insights into the challenges and opportunities of leading a global technology company.

The presentation ended with a lively question and answer session, where attendees had the opportunity to speak directly to Oliver Steil. Questions ranged from specific technical aspects to strategic considerations.

Young adults sit in rows on chairs and look attentively in one direction.

© IKS


Further information can be found on the homepage of the Institute of Communication Systems.