We are a multidisciplinary institute in the field of automation specialising in modern control technology, industrial automation and building automation as well as mechatronics.
We support you in automating your processes, researching the latest technologies and methods and putting them into practice. We contribute our expertise to Bachelor's degree programmes and a Master's degree programme. This enables students to work on exciting projects.
We offer:
- A Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Automation Management
- Continuing education courses on current topics
- Customised training courses for your company
Research focus areas
Selected projects
We support innovative companies in exploring cutting-edge technologies and methods and applying these in practice. We collaborate with national and international research partners and provide you with access to funding – for example in connection with Innosuisse projects and EU research programmes.
AI-Powered Weed Control for Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture faces the challenge of controlling weeds efficiently without relying on environmentally harmful pesticides. Particularly in Switzerland, where fields are often small and uneven, existing mechanical weed control equipment reaches its limits. In collaboration with Strebel Maschinen AG, FHNW has developed an innovative solution: an AI-powered hoeing machine that detects weeds in seed rows of varying widths and removes them selectively. This is intended to reduce pesticide use by up to 100%.
- Institute
- Institute of Automation
- Research field
- Künstliche Intelligenz in Engineering, Automation
Simulation and Optimization of High-voltage circuit breakers
The Pfiffner Group is working on the development of a new type of high-voltage circuit-breaker with environmentally friendly insulating gas for use in substations. A 1D simulation model is to be developed in order to optimize individual parameters of the complex system.
- Institute
- Institute of Automation
- Research field
- Automation
Electromagnetic shielding with conductive plastic housings
To shield interfering signals from electronics, plastics must meet high EMC requirements. They are then used as substitute materials for die-cast metal housings.
- Institute
- Institute of Automation, Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Automation
Laboratories
Individually tailored automation solutions implemented in collaboration with the customer using state-of-the-art tools.
We are proficient in the methods of modelling, simulation and control unit design, and we have state-of-the-art tools at our disposal. This means we are able to develop individually tailored automation solutions and collaborate with our customers to apply these in practice.
EMC Lab
Before you are allowed to launch your electronic device on the market, you as the manufacturer must have its electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tested by an accredited laboratory to ensure that it complies with the regulations. To ensure that your product passes the compliance test at an early stage, a pre-compliance EMC test in our EMC laboratory is a good idea.
SmartGridready Test Lab
Testing products and energy management systems (EMS) for interoperability in accordance with SmartGridready.
Industrial Vision Lab
For industrial image processing tasks, investigations can be carried out with different lighting, lenses and cameras.
Control Technology Lab
Discover our modern laboratory for control systems in industry, where practical applications in control technology and vertical integration are realistically implemented and deepened using the latest models and integrated network infrastructure.
Control Systems Lab
In our laboratory, you have access to the latest technologies and industrial model systems for control engineering tests.
Network and partners
Here is a list of our partnerships and networks.
- National Instruments for the software LabVIEW
- SwissT.net
- brenet (Building and Renewable Energies Network of Technology)
- Swiss Society for Automatic Control (SGA)
We use RoboDK for simulation and offline programming of industrial robots.
Publications
The Institute of Automation publishes an annual report on its activities.
Previous annual reports (in German)
Publications in specialist media
2022
- D. Zogg, Innovative Eigenverbrauchsoptimierung für Mehrfamilien-Arealüberbauung, Phase II, Vergleich verschiedener Regelalgorithmen, Schlussbericht vom 14.03.2022, Bundesamt für Energie BFE
2021
- H. Bock, C. Kirches, A. Potschka, T. Besselmann, «Increasing the Reliability of Multi-megawatt Gas Compressors», in German Success Stories in Industrial Mathematics, 2021, pp. 7-10.
2020
- D. Zogg, Innovative Eigenverbrauchsoptimierung für Mehrfamilien-Arealüberbauung mit lokaler Strombörse in Möriken-Wildegg, Schlussbericht vom 30.11.2020, Bundesamt für Energie BFE
2019
- D. Zogg, “Der Strom bekennt Farbe”, in HK-Gebäudetechnik, November 2019, Gebäudeautomation
- D. Zogg, “Gebäudetechnik mit Elektromobilität optimal kombinieren”, in HK-Gebäudetechnik, März 2019, Spezial Elektromobilität
- D. Zogg, “Eigenverbrauchsoptimierung von Arealen mit verteilter Intelligenz”, in HK-Gebäudetechnik, Februar 2019, Gebäudeautomation
- S. Niederberger, R. Orjuela and M. Basset, "Robust control design for electrically driven high-pressure pumps using H-infinity approach with joint shaping functions", in Proceedings of the 18th European Control Conference (ECC), 2019, pp. 459-464.
- S. Niederberger, R. Orjuela, P. Schleuniger, R. Anderegg and M. Basset, "Extended validation of a graph-based modelling methodology for high-pressure networks", in Proceedings of the 8th IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems, 2019, pp. 488-493.
- A. Cortinovis, M. Mercangöz, T. Besselmann, A.-M. Ditlefsen, T. O. Stava, S. Van de moortel, E. Lunde, "Enabling voltage dip ride-throughs of large electric driven gas compressors", Journal of Process Control, Volume 74, February 2019, Pages 76-87.
2018
- M. Edelmann, M. Füglister. «Casting 4.0 VISION OF THE DIGITALIZED FOUNDRY». 73rd World Foundry Congress 23-27 September in Krakow, Polen, Sep. 2018.
- D. Treyer, S. Gaulocher, S. Niederberger, H. Rafael, G. Frech, and A. Ams, «Diamond Wire Wa-fering: A Model-Based Evaluation of Different Control Strategies," in Proc. 35th European Photo-voltaic Solar Energy Conf. and Exhibition EUPVSEC, pp. 331-336, 2018.
- S. Niederberger, R. Orjuela, P. Schleuniger, R. Anderegg and M. Basset, «A graph-based model-ling methodology for high-pressure networks applied on waterjet machining,” Mechatronics, 55, pp. 115 – 128, 2018.
- Besselmann, S. Almér and P. Jörg, "Torque Harmonic Minimization for Load Commutated Inverters in Pulse Mode," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 86-93, Jan. 2018.
- T. Besselmann, A. Cortinovis, S. Van De moortel, A.-M. Ditlefsen, M. Mercangöz, H. Fretheim, P. Jörg, E. Lunde, T. Knutsen, T.O. Stava, "Increasing the Robustness of Large Electric Driven Compressor Systems During Voltage Dips", in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 1460-1468, March-April 2018.
- T. Besselmann, P. Jörg and S. Van de moortel, "Power Factor Improvements for Load Commutated Inverters," 2018 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA), Copenhagen, 2018, pp. 1-6.
- S. Almér, T. Besselmann and M. Schweizer, "Model Based Tuning of Proportional Resonant Controllers for Voltage Source Inverters," 2018 International Power Electronics Conference (IPEC-Niigata 2018 -ECCE Asia), Niigata, 2018, pp. 555-559.
2017
- H. Eichin, L. Ostgen, B. Ruch, R. Gottwald, N. Docci: "UAV WITH SENSOR PLATFORM FOR MINE DETECTION"; MINE DETECTION SYMPOSIUM 2017, Universität Basel, Urs-Endress-Stiftung, 2017.
- D. Treyer, S. Gaulocher, S. Niederberger, H. Rafael, and A. Ams, “Application of Multi-Parametric Quadratic Programming to Simulation of Deflected Wires in a Wire Saw," in Proc. in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics PAMM, 2017.
- D. Treyer, S. Gaulocher, S. Niederberger, H. Rafael, and A. Ams, “From Single Wire Process Variables to WireWeb Properties - Aggregate Modeling of the Wire Sawing Process." Presented at the 3rd Freiberg Sawing Symposium, Freiberg, Germany, June 2017.
- D. Treyer, S. Gaulocher, S. Niederberger, H. Rafael, and A. Ams, “A Comprehensive Dynamic Model of the Diamond Wire Sawing Process," in Proc. 33rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf. and Exhibition EUPVSEC, pp. 517-522, 2017.
- M. Edelmann, J. Villinger. F. van den Anker. «Eine technische Perspektive aus interdisziplinärer Projektarbeit zu ganzheitlichen Lösungsszenarien für selbstbestimmtes Wohnen im Alter. Potenziale von Technik und Dienstleistungen
für die Nordwestschweiz». 2. Jahrestagung des IARA «Konstruktionen und Gestaltungen des Alterns in ruralen Lebenswelten: Soziale Potentiale, demographische Mythen und technische Möglichkeiten». FH Kärnten, Villach, Austria. Sep. 2107
2016
- Daniel Treyer, Sebastian Gaulocher und Silvano Germann, Aktive Schallauslöschung für Bürostühle, Lärmbekämpfung, Bd. 11, Nr. 6, 2016.
- Jérôme Blum and Roland Anderegg, Modelling of an Innovative Technology for Pavement Milling,
in Proc. 7th IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems MECHATRONICS 2016, Leicestershire, UK, 2016, pp. 591-597. - Daniel Treyer, Sebastian Gaulocher, Silvano Germann and Mathias Siegenthaler, Silence is golden - Implementation
of a noise cancelling oce chair, in Proc. 45th Int. Congr. and Expo. on Noise Control Engineering INTER-NOISE 2016, Hamburg, Germany, 2016, pp. 3027-3038. - Daniel Treyer, Sebastian Gaulocher, Silvano Germann and Erwin Curiger, Towards the Implementation
of the Noise-Cancelling Oce Chair: Algorithms and Practical Aspects, in Proc. 23rd Int. Congr. on
Sound and Vibration ICSV23, Athens, Greece, 2016. - Marc Engeler, Daniel Treyer, David Zogg, Andreas Kunz and Konrad Wegener, Condition-based Maintenance:
Model vs. Statistics A Performance Comparison, in Proc. 49th CIRP Conf. on Manufacturing Systems, Stuttgart, Germany, 2016. - David Zogg, Intelligente Einbindung der Elektromobilität, ET-Elektrotechnik, Ausgabe 4/16.
- David Zogg, Regelstrategien für die Optimierung des Eigenverbrauchs von Gebäuden, Bundesamt für
Energie (BFE), 2013-15, Schlussbericht.
2015
- Lukas Kurmann, Autoparametric Resonance Systems for Vibration Based Energy Harvesters, in Proc.
15th Int. Workshop on Micro- and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications PowerMEMS, Boston, USA, 2015. - David Zogg, Der Eigenverbrauchsmanager, Optimierung des Eigenverbrauchs von Gebäuden durch intelligente
Regelungstechnik, HK-Gebäudetechnik, Ausgabe 3/15, März 2015.
2014
- M. Balmer und J.P. Keller, "Optimiertes Automationsengineering für die BLS Netz AG," Swiss Engineering, Ausgabe Oktober, 2014.
- J.P. Keller, "Automatische optimale Prozessführung - ein aktuelles Innovationsthema," Technische Rundschau, Ausgabe 8/14, 2014, Seiten 30-31.
- Lukas Kurmann and Stefan Niederberger, Energy- Ecient High- Pressure Pump, in Proc. 14th Mechatronics Forum Int. Conf., Karlstad, Sweden, 2014, pp.132-140.
2013
- Daniel Treyer and David Zogg, Model and Expert Knowledge Based Fault Diagnosis for a Heat Exchanger,
in Proc. 2nd Conf. on Control and Fault-Tolerant Systems, Nice, France, 2013, pp. 680-685. - Max Edelmann and Roland Anderegg, "Modeling and Control of Robot Aided Belt Grinding Manufacturing
Processes," IN-TECH 2013 Proc. Int. Conf. on Innovative Technologies, Budapest, 2013, pp 197-200. - Roland Anderegg and Claudio Birrer, "New, Intelligent Bogie Test Rig Technology," 9th Int. Conf. on
Railway Bogies and Running Gears, Budapest, 2013, pp. 305-314. - J.P. Keller and M. Agarwal, "Performance Optimization in Intelligent Manufacturing: Decision Support
System for Value Engineering in Flour Mills," Proc. 10th Int. Conf. on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2013, pp 495-504. - J.P. Keller and M. Agarwal, "Performance Optimization in Intelligent Manufacturing: Decision Support
System for Value Engineering in Flour Mills," in Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics, Editors:
Ferrier, J.-L., Madani, K., Sasiade, J., 10th Int. Conf. ICINCO 2013, Reykjavík, Iceland, 2013,
Revised Selected Papers. - Max Edelmann and Roland Anderegg, "Non-Linear Control of Robot aided Belt Grinding Manufacturing
Processes," 1st Annu. Int. Conf. on Industrial, Systems and Design Engineering, Athens, 2013,
ATINER'S Conference Paper Series, No: IND2013-0818, ISSN 2241-2891. - Thomas Afjei, David Zogg und Dominic Jurt, Neues System Control Lab für die Integration und Automatisierung
erneuerbarer Energien im Gebäudebereich - Für die Optimierung von Heizsystemen, HK-
Gebäudetechnik, Ausgabe 2/13, Feb. 2013.
2012
- Lukas Kurmann, Roland Anderegg, Sandro Wiedmer and Henner Rüschkamp, Control of weak and
strong nonlinear dynamics in an industrial extraction process, Int. IEEE Conf. on Mechatronics and
Automation, Chengdu, China, 2012, pp. 316-320. - Roland Anderegg, Lukas Kurmann and Sandro Wiedmer, "Mechatronics of dynamical milling process for
industrial applications," in Proc. of 13th Mechatronics Forum Int. Conf., Johannes Kepler University,
Linz 2012, pp. 190-197. - Roland Anderegg and Lukas Recher, "Control of chaotic vibrations using the principle of autoparametric
resonances," in Proc. 12th Mechatronics Forum Biennal Int. Conf., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,
ETH Zürich, 2012, pp. 324-331. - Jürg P. Keller and Mukul Agarwal, "Fast, exible, interactive decision-support tool: an industrial application,"
in Proc. of the 8th Int. Symp. on Intelligent and Manufacturing Systems, Sakarya University, 2012.
About us
Team members of the institute
Our interdisciplinary team is made up of specialists from the fields of systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer sciences, mathematics and physics.
Team members of the instituteContact
Prof. Dr. Roland Anderegg
Head of FHNW Institute of Automation
- Phone
- +41 56 202 77 43
- roland.anderegg@fhnw.ch