The big stage for young researchers: TÜV AUSTRIA Science Award 2016
- 10/18/2016
- Marketing Industry & Energy Business Assurance Digital Services Infrastructure & Transportation
- Created by Michael Thomas
Intelligent headlights, electromobility, sustainable waste analyses, robots with the latest camera control or completely new methods of moving and inspecting, security for cross-border e-government, driver assistance systems for streetcars, sound measurements in the low-frequency range, rehabilitation measures for collection objects containing asbestos, CO2 reduction in enclosed areas, stability characteristics in lightweight manufacturing technology, simulation models for material fatigue, measuring the electrical parameters of pipelines, planning and development of a drive system and the motor control for e-racing cars.
Out of more than 200 submissions between 2012 and 2016, a total of 27 projects received the TÜV AUSTRIA Science Prize with 56 award winners.
It is an impressive showcase for young researchers and developers working in the fields of safety, technology, environment, quality and sustainability.
The aim is to raise awareness of the high quality of engineering in Austria and of the spirit of research and innovation, to offer young engineers a platform and to spread the word about their talents efficiently.
Stefan Haas, CEO of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group: “Promoting young engineers and scientists is a worthwhile investment in the future. The invitation that we have sent out for people to take part in a competition where their work will be evaluated has been very well received. Not only with respect to the number of submissions, but above all to the quality of the work, the variety of solutions, the perspectives for the future, the innovative ideas, the sustainability concepts and much more. It is nice to see how much creative and innovative potential Austria’s next generation of engineers has to offer.”
Assessments were carried out on degree theses and dissertations at technical universities and universities of applied sciences, engineering college dissertations as well as successful development projects in companies.
Brief information about winning projects in the TÜV AUSTRIA Science Prize 2016
Category for universities/universities of applied sciences
Graduate engineer Dr. Walter Ochensberger
Thesis from Montan University Leoben, Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science at the Austrian Academy of Sciences
“Characterization of fatigue crack growth with the configurational force concept”
The thesis deals with the development of a new numerical method for characterizing fatigue crack growth in elastoplastic materials (e.g. ductile metals) in order to predict accurately the service life of cyclically loaded components in mechanical engineering. To this end, the concept of configurational forces was used.
VIDEO: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Walter Ochensberger - Interview on You Tube (German)
Graduate engineer Michael Muffat, BSc
Master thesis from Graz University of Technology, Institute of Electrical Power Systems
“Modelling and measurement of the electrical parameters of pipelines”
In the construction of pipelines, a wide variety of aspects has to be taken into consideration: along with pressure, steep gradients or high altitudes, electrical engineering is also involved. Because of the routings, alternating current influence can often occur with high-voltage systems.
VIDEO: Dipl.-Ing. Michael Muffat, BSc - Interview on You Tube (German)
Category for engineering college dissertations
Matthias Müller, Maximilian Siegl, Pascal Pleyer, Stefan Görig, Tomislav Percic
Diploma thesis from HTL Wien 10 engineering college, Department of Mechatronics
“Project Worm – technology inspired by nature”
The team took on a project from the field of bionics, i.e. constructing a technical model based on an animal. The creature in question was an earthworm. The aim of the project was to construct a technical model of an earthworm with fixed segments and body segments in robot form.
Vishal Chani, Lukas Knapp, Paul Oberauer, Lukas Rienessl, Robert Promok, Fabian Pöchmüller
Diploma thesis from HTBLUVA Salzburg engineering college, Department of Electrical Engineering
“Developing and manufacturing a drive system and planning and developing a motor control system for the electric vehicle ‘Scorpion’”
The drive concept and the motor control system for the “Scorpion” were planned and manufactured as part of an inter-departmental collaboration project in the electrical engineering department. In addition, a second vehicle, which should receive road approval, was also developed.
The roadworthiness of the two “Scorpions” coupled with achieving a good position at this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon in London ensured that this dissertation project had a successful conclusion.
Category for practical company projects
Graduate engineer Mehmet Akif Gümüser, DI (FH) Thomas Greiner
“Energy self-sufficient traffic control systems”
The installation on the A23 highway is the first and, currently, only traffic control system in Austria that runs on photovoltaic power. Any surplus energy is fed into the grid. The component energy consumption, switching states of the traffic control system and climate factors are constantly monitored. In November 2016, an upgrade will be carried out with additional measuring devices and sensors, for example moisture sensors and wind data measuring devices.
The TÜV AUSTRIA Audience Prize for 2016 went to
Raphael Scharf
Diploma Thesis from HTL Wolfsberg engineering college
“Greening the energy footprint of a family home with the help of a small wind turbine”
Even though the project partner is already producing part of the energy he requires per year with a photovoltaic system, he wanted to use a further alternative source of energy and install a small wind turbine which would supply the house with electrical energy during days when there is not much sun and, in particular, at night.
The result is a small wind turbine with a rated output of 3 kW, operated as a surplus energy feeder.