A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consists of any number of sensors, usually combined with a microcontroller, which form a network using RF links. Depending on external circumstances, wireless sensor networks can be realized using various topologies. While comparatively simple WSN installations are becoming evermore widespread, technological progress has only recently enabled the consideration of advanced scenarios. Such scenarios may involve large networks, “tough” environments (e.g., RF obstacles, EM interference), long-term autonomous operation, changing topologies, or other specific application requirements, and result in various fundamental design challenges. Following below is a list of the most significant of these challenges.

Present-day wireless technologies such as RFID or personal-area networks with low power consumption enable significant potentials regarding the optimization of logistic processes in goods distribution and production within such core branches of the national economy as commerce, consumer goods, automotive, and electronics industries. This is due to the ability to deploy distributed systems with applications in sensorics, logistics, or remote monitoring. A truly detached remote operation of such distributed components is possible, if the power supply is autonomous as well. The traditional approach of using batteries tends to quickly cause problems regarding costs and maintenance with a high number of distributed components. 

In the growth centre[1] "Customer Bautronic System" 9 regional partners are joined together with the objective of creating a system platform for a new kind of user integration at planning, commissioning and operation of domestic engineering and building automation. The aim is, to achieve the individual optimum for a building user as regards to the factors...

With the introduction of new transmission standards for frequencies above one gigahertz, it became necessary, to be able to develop, produce and characterize such systems. In the project association X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries, TU Ilmenau, Melexis and IMMS realizations for carrier frequencies up to 1 GHz were possible, which was to be extended to 6 GHz.

Photo diodes are semiconductor devices which allow to change incident light into an electrical current. So they can be used in many different applications. The field of applications is very wide. Photo diodes were are in digital cameras, sensors or data communications. The dynamic properties are in focus for the last case. The increasing bandwidth of telecommunication systems and the rising packing density of CDs und DVDs require matching optical-electrical converters. Hence a verification of all dynamical properties is necessary.

Based on the results of the cooperation with the companies Melexis GmbH and X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG located in Erfurt experiences are presented, which were gained from development, evaluation and characterization to production tests of RF-ICs, ASICs, RF-modules and discrete components. Here special attention is paid to the specific problems of the measuring environment and the RF-compatible hardware design. By the use of complex PC-controlled measuring consoles the corresponding test flows can already be verified in the laboratory under conditions similar to production.

Within the collaborative research centre SFB 622 the IMMS has been carrying out research work for the realisation of nanopositioning systems for large movement ranges. Such drive systems are intended to allow the three-dimensional positioning of objects with positioning uncertainties of only a few nanometers and positioning ranges of a few 100 mm in x- and y-direction as well as some 10 mm in z-direction. The research work aims at the realisation of a positioning system with the following parameters...

The accuracy of a drive following the preset path depends on many factors in the drive system. A many times underestimated factor is the path itself. An adaptation of the path to the physical possibilities of the drive system may substantially improve the precision during path processing itself.

The requirements, which have been increasing for years, made on the precision of components used in precision mechanics, precision technology, microtechnology and MEMS demand for always better production methods and machines with a higher accuracy. In mechanical production, in particular in primary shaping, reshaping and in metal-cutting the limits of the production accuracy are currently in the range of some micrometers.
By using contactless processing methods, e.g. precision laser processing and in surface measuring technology, considerably higher accuracies can partly be achieved. Precondition is the correspondingly precise relative positioning between workpiece and tool or measuring probe. With classical positioning systems positioning accuracies in the sub-micrometer range, especially in case of multiaxial arrangements, cannot be realized under industrial manufacturing conditions.

The promotion program "innovative regional growth centres" of the BMBF is addressed to regional cooperation link-ups having a platform technology and essential unique characteristics in their competency area.
In the growth centre "VERDIAN" ten companies from the Rennsteig region, as well as the TU Ilmenau and the IMMS gGmbH work together in the field of direct drive technology.