Fraunhofer Research News August
Transponders keep track of inventory(opens in new window),The task of controlling stock levels in department stores, from the central warehouse to the retail outlets, is still often performed manually. Time and cost savings can be achieved using smart labels that transmit product data wirelessly. They are now being tested in a pilot project. , ,http://www.fraunhofer.de/english/press/pi/pi2003/09/index_rn09_t2.html (Keeping an eye on fatigue in wind turbines),Gusts of wind pull on the propellers of wind turbines and exert high forces on the power-transmission components. Their torque can be measured by non-contact sensors, allowing early detection of potential damage. The system will be on display at the HUSUMwind trade show. , ,http://www.fraunhofer.de/english/press/pi/pi2003/09/index_rn09_t3.html (Get that tiger out of the tank!),Before waste materials are recycled, they usually have to be cleaned. Old fuel tanks from cars and central-heating systems are mostly contaminated with fuel. Researchers figure out how to reprocess such plastic materials - on show at the Entsorga trade fair in Cologne. Turning sound into light(opens in new window),Microphones are sensitive creatures. All it takes is a little sweat for a singer to be left voiceless on the stage. Transmit the sound via light instead of electricity, however, and you can forget about short circuits. And optical microphones are not susceptible to magnetic fields.
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