Research areas

Research areas at IMM

The Institute for Mobility and Life in Motion is working on a diverse range of topics, enabling a holistic view of complex systems. By addressing areas such as vehicle and aircraft systems, acoustics, ergonomics, and artificial intelligence, the institute integrates various disciplines into its research. This interdisciplinary approach allows for innovative solutions that consider all facets of human-centered mobility and technological advancement.

Autonomous movement and mobility planning for a modern society
Human-Machine-Interface
Safety and reliability through intelligent systems
Sustainability through efficiency to preserve nature

Individual Research Areas

01 Accident research

Klaus Böhm is Professor of Expertise and Vehicle Design as well as Accident Analysis and Accident Research. He studied in Ingolstadt and Zilina and worked for over 20 years as a test engineer and expert for accident analysis at DEKRA before being appointed to Munich University of Applied Sciences in February 2022.

Current research projects

  • Expertise and vehicle construction
  • Accident analysis
  • Accident research
  • Digital forensics

Current research projects

  • GIDAS- German study on in-depth traffic accident data collection

Selected publications

  • Böhm, Klaus & Geisbauer, Christian & Goertz, Roland & König, Thomas & Jonas, Lausch & Lott, Susanne & Schaffrath, Lisa & Schweiger, Hans-Georg & Wegener, Bianca. (2022). Safe-Handling of E-vehicle after Accidents: Recommendations for the Rescue Chain.
  • Fothen, Christoph & Paula, Daniel & Böhm, Klaus. (2023). Die Bedeutung von Fahrmodusdaten für die Aufklärung von Verkehrsunfällen. 01/2023.
  • Paula, Daniel & Bauder, Maximilian & Pfeilschifter, Claus & Petermeier, Franziska & Kubjatko, Tibor & Böhm, Klaus & Riener, Andreas & Schweiger, Hans-Georg. (2023). Impact of Partially Automated Driving Functions on Forensic Accident Reconstruction: A Simulator Study on Driver Reaction Behavior in the Event of a Malfunctioning System Behavior. Sensors. 23. 10.3390/s23249785.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Böhm

02 Aircraft control and aircraft systems

Alexander Knoll has extensive expertise in the fields of flight mechanics, flight control and flight guidance thanks to his work in the research, development and operation of aircraft. He has been a professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences since 2010 and heads the Automation and Dynamics Laboratory. He previously worked as a development engineer and head of flight mechanics and flight control at what is now Airbus Defence and Space and is also a trained commercial aircraft pilot.

Current research interests

  • Determination of flow conditions from flight data and AI-based prediction of critical wind conditions
  • Novel optimised operating modes for the automatic flight guidance of VTOL aircraft (Vertical Take Off and Landing)
  • Combating vegetation fires using a swarm of semi-autonomous drones

Current research projects

  • AIDER - Artificial Intelligence Desaster Relief
  • AUDEKI - Automated flight guidance supported by a combination of intelligent algorithms
  • EILT - Impact-reduced inner-city air transport technology

Selected Publications

  • Bredlau, Marvin & Weber, Alexander & Knoll, Alexander. (2023). FORFIS: A forest fire firefighting simulation tool for education and research. 10.48550/arXiv.2305.17967.
  • Kreuzer, Marcus & Weber, Alexander & Knoll, Alexander. (2024). Spontaneous State Constraint Insertions to Operating Symbolic Controllers Combined with Runtime Assurance for Task Allocation in UAV Missions. 231-238. 10.23919/ECC64448.2024.10590983.
  • Kreuzer, Marcus & Weber, Alexander & Leupolz, Christian & Knoll, Alexander. (2023). Symbolic control applied to miniature quadcopter mission guidance. 1-8. 10.23919/ECC57647.2023.10178242.
  • Weber, Alexander & Fiege, Florian & Knoll, Alexander. (2022). Vehicle mission guidance by symbolic optimal control. 1243-1249. 10.23919/ECC55457.2022.9838238.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Knoll

03 Applied mathematics

Michael Wibmer's core research areas are the development, verification and application of efficient numerical methods in/from various fields of application. He has been Professor of Applied Mathematics at Munich University of Applied Sciences since 2016 and Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Mechanical, Automotive and Aerospace Engineering since 2019. Previously, he was a calculation engineer and project manager at BMW AG.

Current Research Focus

  • Modelling and numerical simulation of the dynamics of complex mechanical systems using deterministic and probabilistic applications
  • Uncertainty quantification especially in the application of wave propagation in one-dimensional structures
  • Applications of the theory of random matrices
  • Modelling and numerics for smart materials, especially in medical applications

Current Researchprojects

  • MSSKW - Efficient modelling and simulation of stochastic influences on structure-borne sound propagation in waveguides

Selected Publications

  • Demaret, Laurent & Schlüchtermann, Georg & Wibmer, Michael. (2024). Höhere Mathematik: Eine Brücke zwischen Theorie und Praxis. 10.1007/978-3-658-45217-9.
  • Wibmer, Michael. (2024). Nonparametric approach for structural dynamics of high-voltage cables. Results in Engineering. 22. 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102168.
  • Wibmer, Michael. (2023). Projection-based model order reduction incorporating geometry variability applied to cardiac mechanics.

Prof. Dr. Michael Wibmer

04 Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Marcin Hinz specialises in artificial intelligence and neural networks as well as reliability techniques and image recognition. From 2005 to 2023, he studied, completed his doctorate and worked at the University of Wuppertal before being appointed to Munich University of Applied Sciences in February 2023.

Current research interests

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Condition monitoring, predictive quality, image recognition
  • Interaction with intelligent and adaptive algorithms

Selected publications

  • Hinz, Marcin & Lindworsky, Alexander & Bracke, Stefan. (2024). Qualification of AI-Based Surface Topography Inspection Systems for Inline Measurement in Series Production: Tactile Touch Systems Versus Optical AI Analysis. 10.1007/978-3-031-56467-3_12.
  • Hinz, Marcin & Bracke, Stefan. (2023). Framework for the Monitoring of Complex Surfaces Based on Optical Assessment. 1729-1736. 10.3850/978-981-18-8071-1_P444-cd.
  • Hinz, Marcin & Pietruschka, Jannis & Bracke, Stefan. (2023). Optical Surface Analysis with Support Vector Machines based on Two Different Measurement Techniques. 2721-2722. 10.3850/978-981-18-8071-1_P409-cd.
  • Rother, Klemens & Sieber, Timo & Neuhäusler, Josef & Kling, Maximilian & Hinz, Marcin & Möller, Christian. (2024). Prediction of the Bending Collapse of Thin-Walled Rectangular Tubes. 10.1007/978-3-031-64669-0_11.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcin Hinz

05 Control engineering and mechatronics

Simon Hecker is Deputy Director of the IMM and conducts research in the field of control technology for electrical machines and mechatronic systems. His research has led, for example, to the improvement of safety functions in vehicle sunroofs. He has been teaching at Munich University of Applied Sciences since 2011 and has been Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology since 2019.

Current research interests

  • Control algorithms for active noise and vibration cancellation in motor vehicles and aircraft
  • Development of methods for robust, fault-tolerant and adaptive control
  • Active load reduction on aircraft, vehicle and wind power systems

Current research projects

  • Brake-HiL - Brakes Hardware-in-the-Loop test bench for the model-based development of brake systems for electric and automated vehicles

Selected publications

  • Schubert, Dominik & Hecker, Simon & Sentpali, Stefan & Buss, Martin. (2024). Feasibility Analysis for Active Noise Cancellation Using the Electrical Power Steering Motor. Acoustics. 6. 730-753. 10.3390/acoustics6030040.
  • Schubert, Dominik & Angerpointner, Leonhard & Hecker, Simon & Sentpali, Stefan & Buss, Martin. (2021). Adaptive Compensation of Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverter Nonlinearities in Acoustic Applications. 613-618. 10.1109/CCTA48906.2021.9659049.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Simon Hecker

06 Control technology, flight control and flight mechanics

Daniel Ossmann's core research areas are modern control engineering methods. The fields of application include aerospace engineering, energy technology, as well as the automotive and robotics sectors. Daniel Ossmann studied and completed his doctorate at the Technical University of Munich, worked for two years as a postdoc at the University of Minneapolis and conducted research for over 10 years at the German Aerospace Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Current research interests

  • Automated fault detection in safety-critical systems
  • Intelligent, fault-tolerant control systems for urban air mobility and automated forest firefighting using UAVs
  • Methods for estimating wind data to optimise flight trajectories
  • Advanced system identification using wind tunnel and flight test data
  • Control theory for periodic systems
  • Active load reduction to increase the efficiency of aeroplanes and wind turbines

Current research projects

  • AIDER - Artificial Intelligence Desaster Relief
  • ARCTIS - Periodic control of a rotor with shape-adaptive camber mechanism
  • AUDEKI- Automated flight guidance supported by a combination of intelligent algorithms
  • EndeAR - Energy-efficient, data-driven UAS trajectory planning considering macro- and micrometeorological boundary conditions

Selected Publications

  • Biertümpfel, Felix & Pfifer, Harald & Wisbacher, Sabine & Ossmann, Daniel. (2024). Periodic Robust Control of a Wind Turbine. 10.2514/6.2024-2298.
  • Dittmer, Antje & Osterwinter, Bernhard & Ossmann, Daniel. (2024). Combined Individual Pitch and Flap Control for Load Reduction of Wind Turbines. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2767. 032022. 10.1088/1742-6596/2767/3/032022.
  • Ossmann, Daniel. (2024). From Aerospace Education to Renewables: Designing a Controllable Wind Turbine. IFAC-PapersOnLine. 58. 71-76. 10.1016/j.ifacol.2024.08.464.
  • Ossmann, Daniel. (2024). Attack detection in cyber-physical systems via nullspace-based filter designs. IFAC-PapersOnLine. 58. 526-531. 10.1016/j.ifacol.2024.07.272.
  • Weiser, Christian & Looye, Gertjan & Ossmann, Daniel. (2024). Flight Testing Total Energy Control Autopilot Functionalities for High Altitude Aircraft. 10.2514/6.2024-2204.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Ossmann

07 Industrial design and ergonomics

Marion Kießling's field of research is the psychology of perception and the associated creative process for product design and ergonomics. Her professorship at Munich University of Applied Sciences was preceded by professorships at Tongji University in Shanghai from 1998 to 2000 and a professorship at the University of Design in Schwäbisch Gmünd from 2006 to 2007. She has also worked on numerous research assignments, for example for the Volkswagen Group and BMW.

Current research focus

  • Product design: product development process, creativity, bionics, product language, applied aesthetics
  • Ergonomics: interface/XR design, design for all, psychology of perception, colour of design objectives

Current research projects

  • EILT- Influence-reduced inner-city air transport technology

Prof. Marion Kießling

08 Technical acoustics and dynamics

Stefan Sentpali is the scientific director of the IMM and conducts research in the field of technical acoustics. His work focusses on the development of methods for noise reduction on machines and vehicles, as well as the psychoacoustic effects of noise on humans. Stefan Sentpali has been at Munich University of Applied Sciences since 2010 and is Head of the Laboratory for Acoustics and Dynamics. He is also a founding member and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of MdynamiX AG, an affiliated institute of Munich University of Applied Sciences.

Current research interests

  • Development of acoustic subsystem test benches for the assessment of structure-borne noise emission
  • Structure-borne sound transmission through flexible cables
  • Active noise generation and noise minimisation through electric motors

Selected publications

  • Schubert, Dominik & Hecker, Simon & Sentpali, Stefan & Buss, Martin. (2024). Feasibility Analysis for Active Noise Cancellation Using the Electrical Power Steering Motor. Acoustics. 6. 730-753. 10.3390/acoustics6030040.
  • Schubert, Dominik & Angerpointner, Leonhard & Hecker, Simon & Sentpali, Stefan & Buss, Martin. (2021). Adaptive Compensation of Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverter Nonlinearities in Acoustic Applications. 613-618. 10.1109/CCTA48906.2021.9659049.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Sentpali

09 Vehicle design and visualisation technology

Othmar Wickenheiser's field of research is design and innovation development for all mobility concepts. He has been Professor of Transportation Design at Munich University of Applied Sciences since 1996. From 2000 to 2001, Othmar Wickenheiser was Vice President of the Munich University of Applied Sciences. Between 2001 and 2002, he was Managing Director and Head of the International Design Centre in Berlin. He is also an honorary professor at the Academy in Bratislava and has published numerous books on automotive design.

Current research interests

  • Design and brand development, primarily for the automotive industry
  • Methodologies for the design process suitable briefings for the development of design objectives
  • AI for system-optimised design processes

Prof. Dr. Othmar Wickenheiser

10 Vehicle technology, driving dynamics and automated driving

Peter Pfeffer conducts research in the field of vehicle dynamics and automated driving. He has been a professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences and head of the Laboratory for Vehicle Technology since 2007. In addition to his research, Peter Pfeffer actively promotes the exchange of knowledge in research and with practitioners by founding the ‘chassis.tech plus’ conference. He is also co-founder and board member of MdynamiX AG, an affiliated institute of Munich University of Applied Sciences.

Current research focus

  • Modelling and characterisation of chassis and steering systems with hardware-in-the-loop technologies
  • Automated driving and the interaction with vehicle dynamics
  • Subjective perception during automated driving
  • Development of test methods to objectify subjective driver evaluations

Selected publications

  • Pfeffer, Peter. (2023). Aktuelle Trends bei Pkw Lenkungen.
  • Tworek, Anton & Thaler, Korbinian & Radspieler, Matthias & Pfeffer, Peter. (2022). An Innovative HiL Test Environment with a Fully Integrated Brake System and Automated Brake Performance Evaluation. 10.1007/978-3-662-64550-5_20.
  • Wei, Sijie & Pfeffer, Peter & Edelmann, Johannes. (2023). State of the Art: Ongoing Research in Assessment Methods for Lane Keeping Assistance Systems. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles. PP. 1-28. 10.1109/TIV.2023.3269156.

Prof. Dr. Peter Pfeffer