About the project

The future of actuators

Keeping up with the demand for manufacturing growth is the main challenge for the entire semiconductor industry. The Eindhoven Engine project ‘Advanced long-range piezo-electric wafer stage for next generation lithography and metrology application’ therefore aims to demonstrate the feasibility of an ultra-short stroke stage using lightweight and compact piezo-electric actuators. Unlike ‘force’ actuators, these are stiff and non-linear, requiring breakthroughs in materials, electronics, control, mechatronic implementation and sensor systems.

A collective system goal

The goal of this project is a proof-of-concept for a relatively large-range (>10 um) piezo-electric stage and an integrated measurement system with an uncertainty of <100 pm. ASML is driving this research towards alternative wafer stage concepts and actively contributes expert application knowledge and technology regarding lithographic wafer stages and state-of-the-art, high-precision mechatronics and system engineering. NTS group, VDL ETG and TNO have also expressed in interest in joining. Work is carried out via four PhD research projects which are co-located at TU/e’s Multimedia Paviljoen.

Important insights for future equipment

Besides its main goal, this project will open the door to various innovations within the semiconductor field. A metrology concept study into integrated photonics, for instance, will allow for new sensor layouts and position or deformation measurement principles. A study into forces and displacements, piezo stiffness, electronics inputs and parasitic behavior has also already provided valuable input for future system architecture studies.

About the project

A) Deep Learning for Embedded Automotive Platforms:
The goal is to:

1)  Research semi-supervised training methods in order to make neural networks more resilient to adverse imaging conditions, causing the performance drop (wrt. nominal imaging conditions) to decrease with one order of magnitude.

2)  Research inference methods that exploit spatio-temporal coherency in video streams, to increase computational efficiency by one order of magnitude.

All research results will be validated in real-world conditions using TU/e’s Highly Automated Driving research vehicle. NXP will make available its Bluebox automotive computation platform.

B) Spread-spectrum Modulated And interfeRence resilienT RADAR:

To develop novel nm CMOS 77-81GHz radars frontends that generate ultra-fast arbitrary radar waveforms that alleviate radar interference through spread spectrum techniques. To exploit smartness concepts in the front-ends such as instantaneous receive signal analysis, self-interference cancellation using known transmit signal properties, etc.  To design breakthrough performance building blocks such as beamforming receivers and GHz data converters that support reception of high rate long encrypt bitstreams for coding orthogonality with increased range and velocity resolution. Concepts will be demonstrate on NXP’s modulated radar demonstration platforms that will be made compatible and available for the test chips of this project.

About the project

This follow-up project to SmartONE investigates the possibilities of achieving a more integral systemic framework for the previously established lines of research. This concerns the Internet of Things and the developments that place very high demands on fixed, wireless and the increasingly optical networks to transport substantial amounts of data efficiently and reliably. Developments in the field of IT make it possible for more and more devices to be connected to each other. In the future many billions of devices are likely to be connected via the internet and go way beyond the familiar smartphone apps that regulate your thermostat or home lighting system.

About the project

Smart Manufacturing aims to improve factory efficiency by optimizing production processes, but SMEs often lack the capacity to create innovation in this domain. Bringing together Eindhoven Engine, Fontys, TNO and Brainport Industries Campus, the SmartMan project comprises research into various facets of smart manufacturing, including robot-assisted manufacturing, data sharing, industrial AI, virtual reality and autonomous transport. Student projects were executed at SMEs with the goal of developing knowledge, technology and methods for combining quality, automation and flexibility in manufacturing.

During the project, SmartMan successfully supported approximately 80 companies by collaborating with students on innovative assignments. A total of 123 assignments, including internships and graduate projects, were completed. These assignments aimed at implementing business innovations proved successful, with students making significant contributions to the innovation within these companies.

About the project

Co-creation in Living Labs as impact Engine. Living labs as catalysts for circular societal impact

The CoLLidE project focuses on the market introduction of reusable food packaging. The Circulware system, developed by project partner Haval, replaces single-use food packaging with reusable and recyclable, bio-based packaging and will be applied in a living lab in this project. This will enable the use of the new packaging to be investigated from a technical, economic and social perspective. In the living lab, entrepreneurs, students, researchers, public authorities and companies will collaborate and learn together. The living lab will act as a catalyst for circular societal impact and will also investigate how a behavioral change towards food packaging can be achieved.