Review of the year interview with Harald Pötter

Fraunhofer IZM:

Mr. Pötter, we are very excited to hear you summarize 2019’s highlights and lowlights. But let’s start with your views. On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you with the results achieved in your department?

Harald Pötter:

I'd say we’ve earned a 9. Certainly there is still some room for improvement and we could be even more present in the current application areas relevant to us, but with our activities in 5G, antenna, and radar applications and especially with the establishment of our third location in Cottbus, we are on the right track. Here, our high-frequency design expertise will hopefully continue to bear fruit in the establishment of high-frequency sensors as part of an exchange of ideas with other colleagues at the iCampus Cottbus.

IZM: The most important words have just been said, but let’s get down to the details. What were 2019’s successful projects and why?

HP: I am particularly pleased with AVISAT and Kamerad. On behalf of the German Aerospace Center and, in the second case, within a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), we have not only grown quite a bit in cooperation with both research and industry, but were able to show impressive physical project results. Kamerad’s sensor fusion in a synergy of camera and radar sensor technology demonstrates trend-setting technologies for use in autonomous driving.

We are also happy that our pilot projects for ice warning using the ASTROSE sensor node were launched successfully and the sensor nodes have been running in pilot operation since fall.

IZM: It certainly sounds as though there will be enough topics this year to keep you and the individual groups within your department busy. What topics will be included?

HP: Astrose and also other projects are aimed at decentralized artificial intelligence, directly at the sensor node. But also 6G, radar applications, MIMO antenna concepts for communication, and radar applications as well as micro-batteries for medical products will occupy us.

IZM: But let’s be honest—sometimes there are bumps in the road. Even if you don't want to go into detail about it, what do you hope runs more smoothly this year?

HP: Even though it is in the name of our institute and reliability tests are always very important, I would like to see a truncated Failure Mode and Effect Analysis or, in short, Impact Analysis after the end of the concept phase and before starting development. I would also like to see our topics covered even more often online or in print materials. But our discussion right here is a good start!

IZM: Last, but not least: If you could choose what your department stands for, what would you say?

HP: I can put it very briefly: System design—from concept to implementation.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for giving us your time and for the many applied-research projects that you and your team are implementing.