Research at the Highest Level

The AIT laboratories use state-of-the-art technology and equipment and form an essential prerequisite for successful applied research and development. Here, the foundations for products, services, and solutions for tomorrow are laid, tested, and brought to series production readiness. The so-called “Large Research Infrastructure” is one of AIT's major unique selling points.

Biomaterials Characterization Lab Our Biomaterials Labs are equipped with facilities for the quantitative characterization of suitable materials as well as the development and application of process technologies that are innovative and that can be validated. Furthermore, corrosion measurements on degradable implant materials and forming via "Equal Channel Angular Pressing" (ECAP) are possible, which significantly improves the mechanical properties of metallic biomaterials and non-biomaterials, such as hardness, compressive and tensile strength, as well as fatigue strength under completely reversed stress. The state-of-the-art laser lab researches and further develops syntheses of high-purity colloidal nanoparticles for biofunctionalisation and coating, e.g. in order to form antibacterial and antithrombotic surfaces, or as admixtures as nanoadditives.

City Intelligence Lab (CIL) – digital urban planning The City Intelligence Lab at the Center for Energy extends AIT's expertise in the area of "Digital Resilient Cities". The lab is an interactive platform for exploring new forms and technologies for urban planning practice of the future, and follows the approach of a co-creative development – joint creation of new knowledge. The platform is supported by the latest digital planning tools using Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Using digital technologies, it enables complex relationships to be made tangible and the residents to be directly involved in the planning process. The CIL is not only an international showcase laboratory, but also a valuable decision-making aid for developing answers to the central challenges of urbanisation, such as climate change.

Battery testing Batteries are examined in detail at cell, module and system level in the battery test lab. This includes electrical tests as well as an evaluation of safety through abusive tests. For example, electrical tests are carried out in support of the selection of cell technology, functional checks, simulations of driving cycles as well as investigations into service life or aging. Abusive tests on issues of thermal stability, elevated temperature storage and mechanical analyses of cell-internal short circuits or drop tests are also carried out here.

Horizontal continuous casting plant The semi-industrial pilot plant for horizontal continuous casting of aluminium alloys with real-time control is used for the continuous production of tailor-made formats as well as special alloys in the field of welding wire production. AIT provides support in process technology procedures for producing high-quality, near-net shape formats suitable for direct further processing of the manufactured semi-finished product without intermediate steps (e.g. forging) and offers a top-quality infrastructure for extended casting trials.

Radio Frequency Lab New methods to use radio communication for the reliable data exchange with machines are investigated and analyzed in the Radio Frequency Lab using software defined radio equipment. We are developing novel methods for highly reliable low-latency communication links. Cables may thus be replaced in production environments by radio systems, or autonomous vehicles can be reliably interconnected as a network on the street, on rails and in the air.

Accredited vibration measurements In the die casting process, the liquid casting metal (aluminium or magnesium alloys) is pressed into a steel mould by a piston at very high speed and under very high pressure. When cooled, the metal solidifies very quickly and the finished cast component can be removed after a short cooling time. This fully automa ted pilot plant can be used on an industrial scale to produce highly complex die-cast components made from aluminium and magnesium materials. The goal is achieving holistic solutions, from first idea to production-ready component.

Vibration-intensive construction activities (demolition work, blasting, soil compaction, etc.), but also impacts from road and rail traffic, often cause considerable vibrations in buildings. AIT has the necessary know-how to record and evaluate the effects of vibrations and is certified according to ISO 9001 in

Cold chamber die casting machine DAK1100-112 this area.

Molecular Diagnostics Lab The lab of the Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics consists of two specialized units. The molecular biology lab is equipped for the detection and valida tion of biomarkers and assay development. All steps from cell culture to isolation, processing, detection, and quantification of various biomolecules (nucleic acids and proteins) from a wide variety of biological samples (tissue, blood and saliva) are feasible in this lab. Whereas the sensor lab is designed to establish biosensors and integrate them into highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostic systems. The focus here is on developing electrochemical, magnetic, and opti cal detection methods and on creating prototypes printed with “bio-inks”.

Machine Vision Lab In robust high-performance vision systems, image capturing, lighting, and algorithms must always be well coordinated. For this purpose, test setups are quickly realized in the Machine Vision Lab from a large number of available components to check the suitability of different solution ideas. In this way, both the latest research ideas can be implemented for the first time and the development of prototypes for industry can be realized.

RoadSTAR The driving lab "RoadSTAR" records all the parameters of the road essential for the road operator or expert in a single crossing, without obstructing traffic flow. This increases the longevity of the road while at the same time increasing road safety. Surface damage and cracks in the road surface are visually recorded by the "RoadSTAR" mobile lab. The parameters to be measured and analysed comprise the road surface grip, the macrotexture, the transverse flatness and the longitudinal flatness. The examination of all traffic safety relevant condition characteristics takes place as part of the (standard) accreditation. This allows for example the independent examination of building con tract provisions at the time of acceptance or before the end of the warranty period.

Shock and vibration testing of components AIT boasts many years of know-how as an independent ÖVE/ÖNORM EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test centre for shock and vibration testing and environmental si mulations. Items undergoing testing such as electronic and electrical parts, equipment, machinery and systems as well as superstructures for vehicle com ponents will be subjected to stress and tested using two electrodynamic shakers, possibly also in combi nation with a climate chamber. We advise our clients on selecting appropriate test procedures, we offer the competent and client-oriented execution of such tests, and we issue accredited test certificates. Since 2018, shock tests of up to 100 g have been possible using the shakers.

Technology Experience Lab The AIT TX Lab (Technology Experience Laboratory) is a flexible facility for various types of user rese arch and demonstration activities in the lab area as well as for field trials. It provides a state-of-the-art framework for the implementation, documentati on and analysis of requirements engineering, focus groups, workshops, usability, user experience and quality of experience studies as well as for the pro totyping of advanced interaction designs and future concepts. The AIT experts explore specific factors such as different experience quality measurements, the creation of key technology area experiences and key application contexts, based on improved funda mental interaction thinking and dedicated methods and tools to help develop high-quality technology experiences. For this purpose, end users in the AIT TX Lab are closely involved throughout the entire development process.

SmartEST-Lab AIT's SmartEST Lab (Smart Electricity Systems and Technologies) and the High Power Laboratory provide a Europe-wide unique laboratory infrastructure for electrical energy technology components ranging from power electronic converters for photovoltaic (PV) and storage systems, via charging stations for electric vehicles to high-performance switchgear and fuses. The lab offers clients from industry tailor-ma de test facilities for their developments and products in the power range up to 1 MVA for operating low voltage components and systems (SmartEST), or 120 MVA for short circuit and load tests and up to 1200 kV for high voltage tests (High Power Laboratory). AIT thus supports network operators and component manufacturers with an ideal experimental develop ment environment for the transformation of the energy infrastructure.

Ambient noise, rolling noise and pass-by testing and immission measurements This describes the measurement of sound pressure levels which are relevant for the assessment of ambi ent noise and include the noise emissions from road and rail traffic. Our services: • Rolling noise measurements (CPX method) according to ISO 11819-2, • Pass-by testing (SPB method) according to

ISO 11819-1.

Additive Manufacturing Lab With Wire-AM (WAAM, wire+arc additive manufacturing), conventional standard welding equipment is adapted in such a way as to enable component production by direct metal deposition from welding wires with comparatively high forging rates and theoretically unlimited component size. At the LKR, both standard aluminium- and magnesium-based welding consu mables and in-house manufactured special wires are processed. All light metal alloys produced by melt metallurgy can be produced in-house.

Molecular Biological Lab & DNA Bank AIT provides a comprehensive lab infrastructure in Tulln, featuring e.g. the molecular biology labs to de velop genetic marker systems using state-of-the-art molecular technologies for research questions in the fields of genomics and transcriptomics, through to marker applications for various genotyping purposes and DNA fragment analysis based on various tech nologies such as // KASP™// qPCR // genotyping by sequencing (e.g. RADseq) // micro-satellites (STRs / SSRs). Highlight: the DNA database. High-throug hput DNA extraction with liquid handling systems (ISO 9001:2008) for the development and application of customized DNA extraction protocols for various tissues and organisms, a centralized facility for longterm storage and biological material management.

Battery Research Pilot Line AIT is one of the few research institutions worldwide that can cover the entire value chain from battery re search to battery production under one roof. Thanks to a dry room and a state-of-the-art research pilot line, the AIT experts are able to produce lithium-ion pouch cells with regard to industrially relevant processes. AIT thus bridges the gap between science and market application.

Lab for unmanned aerial vehicles Unmanned aircraft need sensors to detect their surroundings in order to avoid collisions, but also for orientation and for determining the flight path as well as possible landing sites. As with all autonomous systems, a reliable position determination is also indispensable when carrying out flight missions. In the lab, corresponding technology components are developed and integrated and the aircraft are prepared for outdoor missions. The aircraft are on the one hand quad/hexacopters of various sizes, but also fixed-wing aircraft for large-area and long-duration flight missions for various purposes (transport, inspection, surveying, surveillance, etc.). The technology components are also used in assistance systems of manned aircraft and for airspace surveillance.

DC Lab Already today, renewable electricity from offshore wind farms with high-voltage direct current transmission is transmitted over long distances to the mainland with low losses. In future, DC (direct current) networks could also be used at the medium and low voltage level. By expanding the labs for DC currents on the order of 80 kA, AIT creates an efficient and high-performing validation platform for manufacturers of DC components and DC systems. Direct current networks at medium and low voltage level, photovoltaic systems, storage systems, batteries for electric vehicles and new types of switchgear will play an important role in the future energy system. The DC Lab at the Center for Energy will be the largest lab of its kind in Austria – the start is planned for 2021. This lab infrastructure is particularly important for European developers and manufacturers of power electronic components.

Airborne sound insulation, sound reflection & sound diffraction As part of the transnational development of acoustic in-situ testing of noise protection walls, standards EN 1793-4, EN 1793-5 and EN 1793-6 have been developed to determine the relevant acoustic properties on site or in the lab. The three mentioned standards regulate the measurement of the sound diffraction at the upper edge, the measurement of the sound reflection at the noise protection wall and the airborne sound insulation, applying a holistic view. With extensive testing activities and collaboration in national and European standardisation bodies, AIT regularly demons trates its high level of systemic expertise.

Use of waste heat from industrial processes 11 December 2019 could go down as a milestone in energy system transformation: On this day, the first industrial high-temperature heat pump was put into demo operation at the Wienerberger Österreich GmbH site in Uttendorf (Upper Austria). Waste heat from industrial processes has so far mostly been released into the environment completely unused. Currently, a large part of the energy for drying processes is lost in the exhaust air. As part of the EU project DryFiciency, a new heat pump technology was developed in a project chaired by AIT and a demonstrator was integrated into the drying process. In the brick factory in Uttendorf, the high-temperature heat pump is now being tested in a real industrial environment. "In order to extract water from bricks or other products such as food,

it must be evaporated at 90 to 160°C," explains Veronika Wilk, scientific coordinator of the DryFiciency project and Senior Research Engineer at the AIT Center for Energy. With heat requirements above 110°C, it has not yet been possible to use heat pumps to recover the waste heat. In the EU research project DryFiciency, a demonstrator was developed which shows that heat pump technology can also be used for industrial processes in a higher temperature range. "Wienerberger and AIT have been collaborating in a strategic partnership for five years. DryFiciency marks a milestone in the decarbonisation of the brick and tile industry," says Carlo Callegati, Head of R&D Operations and Engineering Wienerberger AG. Heat pumps will be an essential element of energy infrastructure in the future, also in the industrial context.

Photonics & Quantum Communication Lab The lab deals with technologies based on the use of light. The research activities range from photoni cally integrated circuits at the chip level via system integration of optical and electronic components all the way to the demonstration of new applications in telecommunications, quantum optics and sensor technology.