Rocket technology for the home – the non-luminous burner technology developed by DLR enabled us to develop highly energy-efficient fuel-oil burners that are soot-free and particularly low-polluting.
Rocket burner for oil-fired boilers
Originally, silicon carbide was used to make thermal-protection tiles for spare capsules. Developed into brake discs for sports cars, the material is 70% lighter than a steel brake disc. At up to 1600°C, its heat resistance is twice as high as that of steel, and its braking performance and service life are clearly superior.
Ceramic brake disc
The space mouse is a computer input device for controlling robots and objects in virtual spaces and three dimensions. Today, it is most frequently used in CAD applications and 3-D computer games.
Space mouse
Made of CFC, this crash tube is installed in car steering columns. In case of a crash, it prevents the steering column from penetrating into the interior and progressively absorbs the impact energy.
Crash absorber element
When digital aerial cameras were launched on the market, flight times shrank by 75 to 85% compared to those required by analog cameras because all relevant spectral channels could be recorded simultaneously. These cameras permit combining digital stereo and colour image information with local position data.
Digital aerial camera
Mounted in a helicopter, this laser-based surveillance system detects even extremely small leakages in natural-gas pipelines from the air. Labour- and cost-intensive patrols are no longer needed.
Laser-based pipeline monitor
Mounted on towers, the sensor of this automated early warning system for forest fires reliably detects smoke in an area of 700km², day or night. Images are processed locally. When smoke is detected, relevant data will be transmitted to a control centre, where further steps will be initiated.
Early warning system for forest fires
A method developed by DLR uses anonymised position data from road users moving with the traffic. Supplied by mobile phones and tracking systems, these vehicle data are processed centrally to determine the fastest routes and communicated to satnav systems in real time.
Real-time traffic information for satnavs
Compared to conventional industrial robots, this type not only features lightweight materials. More importantly, it has cognitive skills which make it versatile enough to assemble increasingly complex products. The robot can yield to external forces and adapt to changing working conditions.
Lightweight robot