{"id":2161,"date":"2026-02-13T10:08:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T09:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/otto-spaleck-stiftung.de\/?p=2161"},"modified":"2026-02-13T10:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T09:19:10","slug":"award-winning-project-work-2026-bionics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/otto-spaleck-stiftung.de\/en\/award-winning-project-work-2026-bionics\/","title":{"rendered":"Award-winning project work 2026 \u2013 Bionics"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
At the Bionics Institute of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Bocholt, this year’s semester project for the bachelor’s degree programme in bionics produced groundbreaking solutions to a problem in modern air conditioning technology: the reduction of vibrations in fan walls, such as those used to cool large data centres.<\/p>
Strong partnership with industry<\/strong><\/p> The task was set directly by ZIEHL-ABEGG SE, a global market leader in air and air conditioning technology. The cooperation was so successful that the industry partner is now even considering patenting the students’ designs \u2013 a huge accolade for the quality of education at the Bocholt site.<\/p> The winner of the audience award<\/strong><\/p> The \u2018Point P\u2019 group secured the Otto Spaleck Foundation’s audience award with their project. The team developed a spherical flexure joint using a 3D printer that eliminates vibrations at the shaft end in a purely mechanical way. The precise validation using sensors and Arduino evaluation impressed the 120 guests at the final presentation.<\/p> Diverse approaches modelled on nature<\/strong><\/p> In addition to the winning team, five other groups presented impressive bionic solutions: These projects prove that when academic freedom meets industrial challenges, true innovation emerges. We congratulate all participants on these outstanding results!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t At the Bionics Institute of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Bocholt, this year’s semester project for the bachelor’s degree programme in bionics produced groundbreaking solutions to a problem in modern air conditioning technology: the reduction of vibrations in fan walls, such as those used to cool large data centres. Strong partnership with industry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
– Ast(a) la Vista, vibrations:<\/strong> Transfer of energy to flexible branching arms \u2013 a principle used by trees to dampen wind loads.
– Schwingungsb\u00e4ndiger – Herr der Moden:<\/strong> Structural stiffening based on the skeletal principle of sea urchins to shift critical natural frequencies.
– Reibtastisch:<\/strong> Use of friction elements in the motor mount, inspired by the structure of fish scales.
– ResoTunes:<\/strong> Compensation of imbalances through \u2018tuned mass dampers\u2019 that specifically absorb and neutralise vibration energies.
– The friction lab:<\/strong> Systematic investigation of friction materials to achieve optimum damping on the mountings.<\/p>
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