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Research domains - EC4Innovations

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The basic goal of the project in activities related to embedded systems is to carry out research and development of sophisticated embedded systems in the following key areas:

  • EC4Industry&Mechatronics (Embedded Computing for Industry and Mechatronics): embedded systems in industrial applications (control systems, service life monitoring, etc.); development of systems based on the interdisciplinary combination of mechanical, electronic and IT systems.
  • EC4InnovativeMedicine (Embedded Computing for Innovative Medicine): development of embedded systems for medical applications.

In view of the fact that the range of applications for embedded control systems is constantly expanding, and now extends to all areas of human activity, it is essential to focus on the research and development of these systems in order to be able to play a full part in the rapidly developing market – focusing especially on embedded systems working in real time and in limited environments. Users frequently require embedded systems to carry out their activities within strictly defined timescales to fit the demands of the user and the environment. Operating systems used in RT (real time) embedded control systems require real-time determinism of all services provided. Today the development of embedded systems requires the use of complex numerical models, and so the EC4Innovations part of the project will work in close conjunction with the Supercomputing Centre, enabling the effective utilization of computational models and thus accelerating the entire development process of new embedded systems.

The research team of EC4Industry&Mechatronics will focus on the research and development of embedded control systems enabling the implementation of elements of intelligence, autonomy and decision-making mechanisms applied both in hardware and software. The research will concentrate on microsensor networks and embedded systems using international standards for wire and wireless connection technologies. Planned outputs of this part of the project will be patents, utility models and functional models for use in industry. Research will also focus on the transfer of designed embedded systems into customer circuits, especially using FPGA circuits.

Among the key priorities of major producers of mechatronic systems and system elements are questions of the reliability of power supply to mechatronic systems, plus analysis of the effectiveness and negative environmental effects of mechatronic systems. Particular attention is paid to the accurate modelling of situations and phenomena in low-, medium- and high-power mechatronic systems, which are widely used in industry and commercial consumer goods, and which therefore have considerable effects on the environment. The part of the project dedicated to mechatronics will focus on the creation of a modern research and development workplace allowing for the application of modern methods of increasing the quality of mechatronic systems, new methods of controlling electrical regulated drives, power supply quality, diagnostic methods and the electromagnetic compatibility of mechatronic systems. The outputs of the research will be applied and implemented by partners in industry.

Research team EC4InnovativeMedicine will focus on the research and development of embedded systems for biomedical applications, e.g. for telemedicine, especially for distance-provided home-based care. An important aspect of the research will be the development of scanners of biological parameters for the mobile monitoring and measurement of biological parameters using methods of signal and image analysis processing and the evaluation of biosignals. We also plan to design and construct the core of an information system for an integrated system of traumatology centers, which will subsequently be implemented in research focusing on the collection, analysis and archiving of stored data. The system will enable individual processes, information technologies and imaging methods to be analyzed and improved in the traumatology centers of participating connected hospital facilities.

Benefits of EC4Innovations

The research, development and application of embedded systems in various sectors brings huge potential for improving the development levels of all partners involved. These partners include research workplaces – in this case the laboratories EC4Industry&Mechatronics and EC4InnovativeMedicine – and especially consumers and partners in industry and health care. With their equipment and concentration of research staff, the research workplaces involved in this project form a unique base for the training and development of experts who will then develop their field of knowledge further either via research activities or by transferring their knowledge to company workplaces. The planned cooperation with the direct consumers of the results – which are and will continue to be mainly companies and organizations from the Czech Republic – gives these partners a competitive advantage over competitors who do not have similar access to and direct contact with new technologies. This direct contact enables the more effective use of production capacities, the development of new technologies, and the resulting increased competitiveness of the partner companies – who are free to continue in the development of their job-creation potential in the future.

Examples of planned results in the EC4Innovations part of the project are:

  • New embedded equipment for industry.
  • New technologies and constructions of mechatronic systems.
  • New structures of power semiconductor systems.
  • New types of electrical machines and apparatuses.
  • New embedded control systems with signal processors.
  • New means of eliminating undesirable effects and increasing the effectiveness of mechatronic systems.
  • Health care telemetric monitoring system (HomeCare).
  • Traumatological health care information system based on PACS (Traumacentrum).
  • Various medical applications based on embedded equipment.