Completed Projects
TAIGERS - Transparency in Artificial Intelligence: Considering Explainability, User and System Factors, 2021 to 2022
The increased use of artificial intelligence, shortform AI, systems leads to a variety of interdisciplinary challenges in the field of human-system interaction. One of the biggest challenges is the influence of transparency on trust, acceptance and usage of AI. While users, politicians and developers desire transparency, a user-centered definition is highly dependent on context, system factors, and user factors. Lack of transparency, on the other hand, leads to non-acceptance, algorithm aversion and poorly performing systems.
SULEICA – Smart Urban Logistics through Electrification Collaboration and Automation, 2020 to 2022
The transport of goods is one of the most important components of the German economy. Due to e-commerce, the transport volume has increased drastically in recent years. Especially electrification and automation offer potential for rethinking tomorrow's transport processes. In order to achieve this, new urban concepts will be developed which integrate the new technologies into urban life.
Digital Maturity, 2018 to 2022
The digitalization of communication media and social media has dramatically changed the way we deal with media. To cope with the flood of information on the Internet, digital media providers rely on recommendation systems that prepare personalized content for users. For the first time, algorithms intervene in public discourse. A feared effect in the triad between users, social media, and recommendation systems is the filter bubble. This means, users will only be shown content that corresponds to their preferences and they no longer have access to the unfiltered diversity of public opinion.
Paal – Privacy Aware and Acceptable Life Logging Service for older and fragil People, 2018 to 2021
Europe and other countries around the world are facing crucial challenges in the health and social care sector due to demographic change. Lifelogging Technologies are used to improve the quality of life, to ensure independent and healthy living for older and frail people and to enable active and self-determined living in old age and/or with disabilities.
Carbon4PUR, 2019 to 2020
The aim of the Carbon4PUR project is to reduce the heavy dependence of the processing industry on fossil resources and at the same time reduce the greenhouse effect by decarbonising the economy. To this end, work is being carried out on a novel flexible technology based on the direct conversion of gas mixtures from the chemical steelworks into chemical building blocks. These in turn are further processed into polymer intermediates and ultimately result in sustainable applications of rigid foams and coatings. Costly physical separations are avoided.
APEROL – Autonomous personal road traffic organization and digital logistics, 2018 to 2020
The unique selling point of Aperol is the pilot phase in actual road traffic planned from the beginning. For this purpose, the city of Aachen, as consortium partner, will provide selected routes on the Ring, the Campus Boulevard and the Markt for the test phase. The test operation will allow the acceptance of these services and concepts by citizens to be measured directly.
Smart Identification, 2018 to 2020
The idea of Smart Identification is the socially accepted, ethically sensible and legally secure use of smartphones or data collected at the border for the analysis of refugee flows and smuggling processes and the identification of individuals.
SITRA 4.0 Sustainable safety culture as a transformation approach for industry 4.0 in SMEs, 2017 to 2020
Approaches to the digitization of our economy focus on technical solutions and measures to increase productivity. The project expands this perspective to include the success factor of participation, which is decisive for transformation processes.
myneDATA – Self-determined use of Personal Data With Inherent Privacy and Data Protection, 2016 to 2019
Every second personal data of users are collected on the Internet to a large extent. The economic interests of the Internet companies are opposed to the needs and rights of the individual to privacy.
ARIZ - Working in the industry of the future, 2016 to 2019
ARIZ, is a project that addresses the completely new cooperative relationships between people and technology in Industry 4.0 and their impact on opportunities for the world of work. The development of new concepts of work organization and the description of novel design potentials of cooperative hybrid work systems are among the goals of the project. The analysis of the acceptance and safety of cooperative work systems plays a major role in this context.
TABULA – Tangibles on Multitouch Tables in Computer Science Teaching, 2016 to 2019
Compared to other natural sciences, computer science concepts are particularly abstract and are perceived by learners as very complex and difficult. Therefore it is important to make the learning process "touchable" and to give individualized feedback to create a positive learning experience.
Whistle: Living at Home in a Self-Determined Life, 2016 to 2019
In the future, the effects of demographic change and the associated growing need for care in an ageing society will have to be counteracted by assistance systems tailored to the needs of the elderly in order to enable affected people to live in their own four walls as healthily and self-determinedly as possible and, if necessary, supported by care services.
Cluster of Excellence, Production Cluster: Self-optimizing Production Systems – DFG, Excellence Initiative, 2012 to 2018
In the subproject "Self-optimizing production systems", production and manufacturing systems are developed that can make autonomous decisions by using models based on human cognition (Cognitive Control Units). These cognitive decision models are located at different levels of production between production device and production network and are closely interlinked.
Cluster of Excellence, Cross Sectional Processes: Interdisciplinary Innovation Management – DFG, Excellence Initiative, 2012 to 2018
In the sub-project Scientific Cooperation Engineering, experts from the humanities, natural sciences and engineering are to be integrated specifically to the conditions in the cluster.
Acceptance as an Integral Component in the Development of Novel Fuels, Tailor-Made Fuels From Biomass/Core Interaction Field, CIF 4, 2018
In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the mobility sector and to become less dependent on fossil energy sources, new fuels from biomass have been developed in the Cluster of Excellence "Tailor-made fuels from biomass" since the first funding phase of the Excellence Initiative 2007.
Modelling of Individual Decision-Making Processes and the Influence of Intermediaries in the Diffusion of Energy Efficiency Measures and Renewable Energies in the Building Sector, 2017 to 2019
The aim of the project is to understand how individual decision-making processes and relevant actor relationships are mapped in an energy system model for the building sector in order to increase the predictive power of scenarios for the diffusion of energy efficiency measures and renewable heat supply systems in existing and new buildings in Germany by considering aspects of technology acceptance.
I2EASE: Intelligence for efficient electrified and automated driving through sensor networking, 2016 to 2019
The project aims to develop and validate electronic systems that enable automated driving functions and efficient traffic management to increase the efficiency of e-vehicles in urban traffic. This will be achieved by informational networking between charging stations, lighting and e-vehicles as well as by networked intelligent sensor technology.
Cluster of Excellence, Production Cluster: Self-optimizing Production Systems – DFG, Excellence Initiative, 2012 to 2018
In the subproject "Self-optimizing production systems", production and manufacturing systems are developed that can make autonomous decisions by using models based on human cognition (Cognitive Control Units). These cognitive decision models are located at different levels of production between production equipment and production network and are closely interlinked.
SpiCy – Spatial Serception in Virtual Reality, 2016 to 2018
The project GAIC - Getting around in Cyberspace is dedicated to the consideration of real spatial boundaries when transferring them into virtual reality, without clouding the immersion experience of the user. An existing approach is "redirected walking", in which the virtual path of the user is guided through space by means of rotations.
HA-N-F: Highly Automated User-Specific Driving, 2016 to 2018
Increasing urbanisation and changing social mobility bring new challenges for individual and individualisable mobility. Developments in the automotive sector are largely determined by information and communication technologies, ICT for short, such as in the field of highly automated driving, which has enormous potential for the safety, comfort and efficiency of social mobility.
Public Acceptance and Perception of the Processing of CO2 in Products, CDU, 2016 to 2018
Modern societies and the design of livable urban spaces are dependent on reconciling mobility, living and sustainable and renewable energy transformations with the demands of social life.
Ford-RWTH Alliance Project on ePAD Prototyping, 2016 to 2017
In an interdisciplinary network of project partners at the RWTH - the Chair of Computer Science 11, the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components and the Chair of Communication Science- and the Ford Research Center Aachen Innovation Management, Mobility & VES EU Ford Research & Advanced Engineering, novel electromobile "pedestrian devices" are developed as prototypes and iteratively tested.
KESS: Municipal Energy Supply System of the Future – Strategy Fund RWTH Aachen University, 2014 to 2017
One of the major challenges in the conversion to renewable energy is the volatile character of renewable primary energy sources. Therefore, conventional energy conversion methods, efficient energy storage, the provision of conventional residual load and intelligent power distribution play a decisive role in the municipal energy supply system.
CERM: Shaping Sustainable Mobility – Strategy Fund RWTH Aachen, 2014 to 2017
The design of sustainable mobility faces four core challenges: Traffic safety, traffic efficiency, energy efficiency and urban quality of life. For all four fields of research, networking represents an elementary control lever. For future mobility, therefore, powerful information and communication technology that is geared to and optimised for this area will be indispensable.
SLAM: Establishment of a Nationwide Rapid Charging Network for Axes and Metropolitan Areas – BMWi, 2014 to 2017
The German Federal Government and the German automotive industry have committed themselves to electromobility in order to ensure future mobility, also taking environmental aspects and the limited availability of fossil fuels into account. However, the consistent spread of electromobility will only work if there is a reliable and easily accessible network of charging facilities and if the user has the opportunity to charge enough energy in a short time to cover daily journeys.
INTUITEX: Intuitive Operation Through Textile Interfaces – BMBF, 2014 to 2017
The aim of the project is the development of new input possibilities, which can be operated and learned intuitively, which take human needs and living habits into account, which compensate for age-related difficulties in controlling the input, which have an attractive design and a familiar materiality and are therefore realised in textiles, and which - depending on the application – fit into the domestic environment.
FuEco: Future Ecosystem – Assessment of Combined Exposure in Public Urban Space - Modelling, Analysis and Visualisation of Combined Exposure to Noise, Heat Stress, Particulate Matter, DFG Excellence Initiative, Boostfunds, 2013 to 2016
A large part of the world population today lives in urban areas. Within the framework of urban planning and urban development, it is necessary to take into account the divergent demands of the inhabitants on the living space "city". The desire for beautiful and liveable quarters with a high proportion of urban greenery, clean air, low noise levels and a pleasant ambient temperature is of particular importance.
FuEne: Future Energy – Roadmap for a Sustainable and Environmentally Sound Energy System Transformation – DFG Excellence Initiative, Boostfunds, 2013 to 2016
The aim of the Urban Future Outline project network, UFO for short, which is funded by the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments, is to establish a research platform for urban areas. In three interdisciplinary sub-projects, engineers, natural scientists, humanities scholars and social scientists are developing innovative approaches to solutions for the cities of the future.
FuMob: Future Mobility – Public Communication and Information in the Structural Planning and Implementation of new Mobility Concepts and Transport Platforms – DFG Excellence Initiative, Boostfunds, 2013 to 2016
Future Mobility, FuMob. The advancing process of urbanization is accompanied by a steadily growing volume of traffic in cities, which results in a considerable increase in climate and health pollution caused by particulate matter. This calls for innovative mobility concepts such as electric mobility, "park and ride" or car-sharing, which at the same time are geared to the needs of urban residents.
Mobility Broker: Flexible Intermodal Mobility – BMWi, 2013 to 2016
Urban mobility is increasingly characterised by the use of a wide range of transport modes, favoured by the wide accessibility of technical systems that support travellers in planning and booking before and during their journey. The density of innovation in the field of information and communication technology, ICT for short, and the spread of smartphones favour the consolidation of the many different mobility offers and travel information.
TIGER: Acceptance of Deep Geothermal Energy – BMU, 2012 to 2015
Deep geothermal energy – acceptance and communication of an innovative technology. In the course of the nuclear phase-out and the associated energy turnaround, regenerative and sustainable energy sources are playing an increasingly important role.
U-Turn: Urban Turnaround – DFG Excellence Initiative, Boostfunds, 2012 to 2016
Urban Turn, U-Turn. Research on the design of quality of life in urban quarters in the context of mobility, urban structure and energy transition.
ProdUSER: User-friendly Interaction Concepts for the Production Environment in Demographic Change – BMBF, 2014 to 2015
Production is a major contributor to the current economic upswing in Germany. Its success is based on a high level of technology, especially in the manufacturing and processing industry, as well as the competence and know-how of its employees. The labour market is currently undergoing major changes due to demographic change. In order to remain competitive, German companies must face up to the changing conditions and create work contexts that allow them to secure their lead through self-developed know-how and quality services despite the changing labour market.
Neptune: Privacy Preserving Technologies and Users' Perspective on Privacy – Excellence Initiative of the German Research Foundation, 2014 to 2015
The right to privacy is a central human right, which is anchored in the principles of every modern democracy. The individual implementation of this fundamental right is difficult to realize in the course of the modern information society and its rapid technological development. Technical research is countering this problem by developing so-called privacypreserving technologies, or PETs for short. However, this often overlooks the fact that, from the user's point of view, privacy is above all a perceived and experienced good that requires trust in technology and knowledge of the consequences of its use.
iNec: Expert Communities in Demographic Change – BMBF, 2012 to 2015
The aim of the joint project "Innovation through Expert Communities in Demographic Change", iNec for short, is to develop a new personnel development concept based on the principles of social interaction in communities. This concept is designed to systematically promote innovative ideas by networking employees and, in the long term, the social bonding of experts to a company.
eConnect: Interdisciplinary Research in Information and Communication Technology, Short ICT, in Electric Mobility - BWMi, 2012 to 2014
In the econnect Germany project, electric mobility is being integrated into existing transport systems at the Osnabrück location in order to sensitize the population to regenerative energies and to inspire them for their local public transport..
FACE: Surgical Correction of Jaw Misalignments – Seed Fund projects, 2013 to 2014
Congenital or growth-related deviations in the shape or position of the jaws, dysgnathia, represent a serious functional-medical problem. Dysgnathias also have a high degree of psychological impact on the patients, as they influence their perceived attractiveness, self-esteem and personality.
Wacky: User-Centered Information Design in Production With Components Made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced plastic – DFG Excellence Initiative, Seedfunds, 2013 to 2014
In this project, methods for the development of an intelligent, context-adaptive assistance system are developed, which allow to optimize manual production and integrate it into a virtual production process.
PINT: Navigation Within Buildings – DFG Excellence Initiative, Seedfunds, 2012 to 2013
Pedestrian Indoor Navigation Toolbox. Although outdoor navigation is already widely used for cars and pedestrians, indoor navigation still poses a challenge for research.
RadioTodi: Gestures as Input Devices for Touch Surfaces in a Radiological Context - Siemens Medical, 2011 to 2012
On behalf of an international industry partner, the interaction design for an existing medical technology application is being evaluated in a clinical context and user-centeredly optimized and further developed for future application areas and display modalities.
HUMIC: Acceptance Evaluation as an Integral Part of the Development and Expansion of Complex Technical Systems, Using the Example of Mobile Radio, 2009 to 2012
In this interdisciplinary joint project, the acceptance of technology is integrated as a modulating factor in the further development, establishment and expansion of complex technical development cycles.
Triple IP: Information Presentation on Smallscreen Devices in Production – DFG Excellence Initiative, Seedfunds, 2010
In the future, integrative production technology for high-wage countries will place increasing demands on the ability of people to process a variety of different information in their respective working environment and make decisions based on this information.
AC-TEC: Acceptance and Ethics in Medical Technology – DFG Excellence Initiative, Boostfunds, 2009 to 2011
The present project aims at establishing an interdisciplinary RWTH research center for acceptance, usability and ethics of new technologies in the medical.