ESI Application Center

Das ESI-Anwendungszentrum ist eine europaweit einzigartige Kompetenzbündelung von industrienaher Entwicklungsexpertise des größten deutschen Fraunhofer-Instituts, dem Fraunhofer IIS, mit dem wissenschaftlichen Know-how von 15 Lehrstühlen in den Bereichen Hard- und Software der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU).

Angefangen beim Software Defined Radio bis zur Mikroenergietechnik muss heute beinahe alles irgendwo integrierbar sein. Die vereinten Kräfte von IIS und FAU können die Anforderungen zukünftiger Entwicklungen von eingebetteten Systemen umfassend abdecken. Hierbei liegt der Forschungsschwerpunkt auf den Multicore-Systemen, der drahtlosen Kommunikation, der Entwurfsmethodik und dem Hardware-Software-Co-Design. Durch das ESI-Anwendungszentrum werden die darin entstehenden Synergieeffekte für Unternehmen in den verschiedensten Bereichen wie Fitness, Automatisierung und Automobilsensorik nutzbar gemacht. Unser selbst gesetztes Ziel ist es, die Synergieeffekte aus der Kooperation zwischen Universität und Fraunhofer IIS für bayerische Unternehmen nutzbar zu machen.

Fraunhofer IIS develops many different types of embedded systems. Embedded communications are an integral part of our ever-expanding technological world. Virtually everything needs to be embeddable today, from software-defined radio to miniaturized energy technology. Fraunhofer IIS carries out research into compact, embeddable, energy-efficient RF receivers and transmitters for reliable embedded wireless communications in various application areas. Our partners at the ESI Application Center transform what we develop into complete solutions. The aim is to allow Bavarian businesses to take advantage of synergies created through collaboration between Friedrich-Alexander University and Fraunhofer IIS.

As part of its involvement in the ESI Application Center, Fraunhofer IIS is currently engaged in a number of projects aimed at developing efficient, yet cost-optimized wireless systems:

RF Receivers

A wireless interface for embedded systems needs to be able to cope with a variety of frequency bands and communication standards. In addition, its dimensions, energy use and cost need to be minimized. These requirements are impossible to meet using conventional receiver architectures, which is why we are developing new concepts, architectures and technologies tailored to particular uses.

Long distance communication module with high-efficiency amplifier

This digital wireless system for transmitting multimedia or telemetry data will make it possible to achieve long-distance communication or high data rates without sacrificing power efficiency. Depending on the requirements of the specific application, it will be possible to either maximize the range of the transmitter module (up to 100 km) or to optimize its throughput for transmission of HD images (several ten Mb/s). The system will be highly power-efficient irrespective of how it is configured, and data will be received accurately even if the transmitter is moved very quickly. Possible uses of that project include live sports broadcasting, model making, disaster management, security applications and monitoring of hard-to-reach areas.

Efficient RF power amplifiers for LTE signals

These use nanometer CMOS technology for very large-scale integrated fourth-generation mobile communication systems.

As part of the ESI Application Center, Fraunhofer IIS is working on various projects in which we are developing efficient and resource-optimized wireless systems:

• Wireless communication
• Embedded sensor technology
• Positioning
• Multi-core processors (multi-core processors)
• Hardware-software co-design
• Design methodologies