Page 70 - Ameft Journal 2021-III

T TE EC CH HN NO OL L O O G GY Y & &S SU U S ST T A AI IN NA AB B I I L LI IT TY Y Fraunhofer IPMS is working on high-frequency front-end solutions from 60- 500 GHz as well as an energy-efficient AI accelerator based on in-memory computing. Terahertz technologies for visionary innovations in communications and sensor technology In the recently launched joint project T-KOS of the Research Fab Micro- electronics Germany (FMD), terahertz technology is now to be developed synergistically for industry in the fields of communication and sensor technol- ogy for the first time. Innovative system solutions in both areas can make a sig- nificant contribution to the successful implementation of future issues such as digitalization, Industry 4.0 or resource efficiency and thus strengthen Germany as a business location in the long term. In the project, Fraunhofer IPMS is work- ing on high-frequency front-end solu- tionsfrom60-500GHzaswellasan energy-efficient AI accelerator based on in-memory computing. In our digitalized, high-tech world of life and work, the availability of com- munications and data connections is a basic requirement. The increasing mobility of users, the flexible use of broadband multimedia content (e.g., 70 AMEFT 3 2021 entertainment, medicine, logistics), and future technologies such as the Internet of Things or autonomous driving are increasing both the vol- ume of data in mobile networks and the demands on the communications networks themselves. One promising option for increasing data capacity and usable bandwidth is the additional use of terahertz technologies. This forms the basis for innovation not only in the area of radio systems, but also in the area of non-destructive testing (NDT). Terahertz waves can penetrate most electrically non-conductive materials, such as ceramics or plastics, in a similar way to ultrasound and X-rays, but they operate without a coupling medium and require neither complex mechani- cal guidance nor radiation protection measures because, unlike X-rays, they are harmless to the human organism. Although terahertz radiation is pre- destined for a wide range of applica- tions, for example in security technol- ogy, quality assurance or materials testing, industrial introduction has so far failed due to the lack of availability of inexpensive, fast and high-resolu- tion systems with optimized, AI-based image recognition algorithms. This is where T-KOS, initiated by FMD and funded with 10 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Re- search (BMBF), comes in. Using synergies to enable innovations In the joint project T-KOS, which started on 1st May 2021, a total of nine cooperation partners of FMD are working together with Fraunhofer ITWM to synergistically develop tera- hertz technology for wireless radio transmission, non-destructive testing technology, spectroscopy, and non- contact inline measurement technol- ogy. To this end, the technological competencies for communication and (Source: Research Fab Microelectronics Germany) www.ameft.com