@article{StiemerThomaBraun2023,
  author    = {Stiemer, Luc Nicolas and Thoma, Andreas and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {MBT3D: Deep learning based multi-object tracker for bumblebee 3D flight path estimation},
  series = {PLoS ONE},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {PLoS ONE},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {PLOS},
  address   = {San Fancisco},
  issn      = {1932-6203},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0291415},
  pages     = {e0291415},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This work presents the Multi-Bees-Tracker (MBT3D) algorithm, a Python framework implementing a deep association tracker for Tracking-By-Detection, to address the challenging task of tracking flight paths of bumblebees in a social group. While tracking algorithms for bumblebees exist, they often come with intensive restrictions, such as the need for sufficient lighting, high contrast between the animal and background, absence of occlusion, significant user input, etc. Tracking flight paths of bumblebees in a social group is challenging. They suddenly adjust movements and change their appearance during different wing beat states while exhibiting significant similarities in their individual appearance. The MBT3D tracker, developed in this research, is an adaptation of an existing ant tracking algorithm for bumblebee tracking. It incorporates an offline trained appearance descriptor along with a Kalman Filter for appearance and motion matching. Different detector architectures for upstream detections (You Only Look Once (YOLOv5), Faster Region Proposal Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN), and RetinaNet) are investigated in a comparative study to optimize performance. The detection models were trained on a dataset containing 11359 labeled bumblebee images. YOLOv5 reaches an Average Precision of AP = 53, 8\%, Faster R-CNN achieves AP = 45, 3\% and RetinaNet AP = 38, 4\% on the bumblebee validation dataset, which consists of 1323 labeled bumblebee images. The tracker's appearance model is trained on 144 samples. The tracker (with Faster R-CNN detections) reaches a Multiple Object Tracking Accuracy MOTA = 93, 5\% and a Multiple Object Tracking Precision MOTP = 75, 6\% on a validation dataset containing 2000 images, competing with state-of-the-art computer vision methods. The framework allows reliable tracking of different bumblebees in the same video stream with rarely occurring identity switches (IDS). MBT3D has much lower IDS than other commonly used algorithms, with one of the lowest false positive rates, competing with state-of-the-art animal tracking algorithms. The developed framework reconstructs the 3-dimensional (3D) flight paths of the bumblebees by triangulation. It also handles and compares two alternative stereo camera pairs if desired.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoehnischBraunMuscarelloetal.2024,
  author    = {B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Braun, Carsten and Muscarello, Vincenzo and Marzocca, Pier},
  title     = {About the wing and whirl flutter of a slender wing-propeller system},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  publisher = {American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C037542},
  pages     = {1 -- 14},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Next-generation aircraft designs often incorporate multiple large propellers attached along the wingspan (distributed electric propulsion), leading to highly flexible dynamic systems that can exhibit aeroelastic instabilities. This paper introduces a validated methodology to investigate the aeroelastic instabilities of wing-propeller systems and to understand the dynamic mechanism leading to wing and whirl flutter and transition from one to the other. Factors such as nacelle positions along the wing span and chord and its propulsion system mounting stiffness are considered. Additionally, preliminary design guidelines are proposed for flutter-free wing-propeller systems applicable to novel aircraft designs. The study demonstrates how the critical speed of the wing-propeller systems is influenced by the mounting stiffness and propeller position. Weak mounting stiffnesses result in whirl flutter, while hard mounting stiffnesses lead to wing flutter. For the latter, the position of the propeller along the wing span may change the wing mode shapes and thus the flutter mechanism. Propeller positions closer to the wing tip enhance stability, but pusher configurations are more critical due to the mass distribution behind the elastic axis.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchwagerFleschSchwarzboezletal.2022,
  author    = {Schwager, Christian and Flesch, Robert and Schwarzb{\"o}zl, Peter and Herrmann, Ulf and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e}},
  title     = {Advanced two phase flow model for transient molten salt receiver system simulation},
  series = {Solar Energy},
  volume    = {232},
  journal   = {Solar Energy},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0038-092X (print)},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.solener.2021.12.065},
  pages     = {362 -- 375},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {In order to realistically predict and optimize the actual performance of a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant sophisticated simulation models and methods are required. This paper presents a detailed dynamic simulation model for a Molten Salt Solar Tower (MST) system, which is capable of simulating transient operation including detailed startup and shutdown procedures including drainage and refill. For appropriate representation of the transient behavior of the receiver as well as replication of local bulk and surface temperatures a discretized receiver model based on a novel homogeneous two-phase (2P) flow modelling approach is implemented in Modelica Dymola®. This allows for reasonable representation of the very different hydraulic and thermal properties of molten salt versus air as well as the transition between both. This dynamic 2P receiver model is embedded in a comprehensive one-dimensional model of a commercial scale MST system and coupled with a transient receiver flux density distribution from raytracing based heliostat field simulation. This enables for detailed process prediction with reasonable computational effort, while providing data such as local salt film and wall temperatures, realistic control behavior as well as net performance of the overall system. Besides a model description, this paper presents some results of a validation as well as the simulation of a complete startup procedure. Finally, a study on numerical simulation performance and grid dependencies is presented and discussed.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ThomessenThomaBraun2023,
  author    = {Thomessen, Karolin and Thoma, Andreas and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Bio-inspired altitude changing extension to the 3DVFH* local obstacle avoidance algorithm},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Wien},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-023-00691-w},
  pages     = {11 Seiten},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Obstacle avoidance is critical for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating autonomously. Obstacle avoidance algorithms either rely on global environment data or local sensor data. Local path planners react to unforeseen objects and plan purely on local sensor information. Similarly, animals need to find feasible paths based on local information about their surroundings. Therefore, their behavior is a valuable source of inspiration for path planning. Bumblebees tend to fly vertically over far-away obstacles and horizontally around close ones, implying two zones for different flight strategies depending on the distance to obstacles. This work enhances the local path planner 3DVFH* with this bio-inspired strategy. The algorithm alters the goal-driven function of the 3DVFH* to climb-preferring if obstacles are far away. Prior experiments with bumblebees led to two definitions of flight zone limits depending on the distance to obstacles, leading to two algorithm variants. Both variants reduce the probability of not reaching the goal of a 3DVFH* implementation in Matlab/Simulink. The best variant, 3DVFH*b-b, reduces this probability from 70.7 to 18.6\% in city-like worlds using a strong vertical evasion strategy. Energy consumption is higher, and flight paths are longer compared to the algorithm version with pronounced horizontal evasion tendency. A parameter study analyzes the effect of different weighting factors in the cost function. The best parameter combination shows a failure probability of 6.9\% in city-like worlds and reduces energy consumption by 28\%. Our findings demonstrate the potential of bio-inspired approaches for improving the performance of local path planning algorithms for UAV.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Pfaff2023,
  author    = {Pfaff, Raphael},
  title     = {Braking distance prediction for vehicle consist in low-speed on-sight operation: a Monte Carlo approach},
  series = {Railway Engineering Science},
  volume    = {31},
  journal   = {Railway Engineering Science},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {SpringerOpen},
  issn      = {2662-4753 (eISSN)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s40534-023-00303-7},
  pages     = {135 -- 144},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The first and last mile of a railway journey, in both freight and transit applications, constitutes a high effort and is either non-productive (e.g. in the case of depot operations) or highly inefficient (e.g. in industrial railways). These parts are typically managed on-sight, i.e. with no signalling and train protection systems ensuring the freedom of movement. This is possible due to the rather short braking distances of individual vehicles and shunting consists. The present article analyses the braking behaviour of such shunting units. For this purpose, a dedicated model is developed. It is calibrated on published results of brake tests and validated against a high-definition model for low-speed applications. Based on this model, multiple simulations are executed to obtain a Monte Carlo simulation of the resulting braking distances. Based on the distribution properties and established safety levels, the risk of exceeding certain braking distances is evaluated and maximum braking distances are derived. Together with certain parameters of the system, these can serve in the design and safety assessment of driver assistance systems and automation of these processes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ThomaThomessenGardietal.2023,
  author    = {Thoma, Andreas and Thomessen, Karolin and Gardi, Alessandro and Fisher, A. and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Prioritising paths: An improved cost function for local path planning for UAV in medical applications},
  series = {The Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {The Aeronautical Journal},
  number    = {First View},
  publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
  address   = {Cambridge},
  issn      = {0001-9240 (Print)},
  doi       = {10.1017/aer.2023.68},
  pages     = {1 -- 18},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Even the shortest flight through unknown, cluttered environments requires reliable local path planning algorithms to avoid unforeseen obstacles. The algorithm must evaluate alternative flight paths and identify the best path if an obstacle blocks its way. Commonly, weighted sums are used here. This work shows that weighted Chebyshev distances and factorial achievement scalarising functions are suitable alternatives to weighted sums if combined with the 3DVFH* local path planning algorithm. Both methods considerably reduce the failure probability of simulated flights in various environments. The standard 3DVFH* uses a weighted sum and has a failure probability of 50\% in the test environments. A factorial achievement scalarising function, which minimises the worst combination of two out of four objective functions, reaches a failure probability of 26\%; A weighted Chebyshev distance, which optimises the worst objective, has a failure probability of 30\%. These results show promise for further enhancements and to support broader applicability.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchulzeFeyerlPischinger2023,
  author    = {Schulze, Sven and Feyerl, G{\"u}nter and Pischinger, Stefan},
  title     = {Advanced ECMS for hybrid electric heavy-duty trucks with predictive battery discharge and adaptive operating strategy under real driving conditions},
  series = {Energies},
  volume    = {16},
  journal   = {Energies},
  number    = {13},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {1996-1073},
  doi       = {10.3390/en16135171},
  pages     = {29 Seiten, Art. Nr.: 5171},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {To fulfil the CO2 emission reduction targets of the European Union (EU), heavy-duty (HD) trucks need to operate 15\% more efficiently by 2025 and 30\% by 2030. Their electrification is necessary as conventional HD trucks are already optimized for the long-haul application. The resulting hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) truck gains most of the fuel saving potential by the recuperation of potential energy and its consecutive utilization. The key to utilizing the full potential of HEV-HD trucks is to maximize the amount of recuperated energy and ensure its intelligent usage while keeping the operating point of the internal combustion engine as efficient as possible. To achieve this goal, an intelligent energy management strategy (EMS) based on ECMS is developed for a parallel HEV-HD truck which uses predictive discharge of the battery and adaptive operating strategy regarding the height profile and the vehicle mass. The presented EMS can reproduce the global optimal operating strategy over long phases and lead to a fuel saving potential of up to 2\% compared with a heuristic strategy. Furthermore, the fuel saving potential is correlated with the investigated boundary conditions to deepen the understanding of the impact of intelligent EMS for HEV-HD trucks.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Esch2010,
  author    = {Esch, Thomas},
  title     = {Trends in commercial vehicle powertrains},
  series = {ATZautotechnology},
  volume    = {2010},
  journal   = {ATZautotechnology},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Vieweg \& Sohn},
  address   = {Wiesbaden},
  issn      = {2192-886X},
  doi       = {10.1007/BF03247185},
  pages     = {26 -- 31},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Low emission zones and truck bans, the rising price of diesel and increases in road tolls: all of these factors are putting serious pressure on the transport industry. Commercial vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers are in the process of identifying new solutions to these challenges as part of their efforts to meet the EEV (enhanced environmentally friendly vehicle) limits, which are currently the most robust European exhaust and emissions standards for trucks and buses.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LaarmannThomaMischetal.2023,
  author    = {Laarmann, Lukas and Thoma, Andreas and Misch, Philipp and R{\"o}th, Thilo and Braun, Carsten and Watkins, Simon and Fard, Mohammad},
  title     = {Automotive safety approach for future eVTOL vehicles},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-023-00655-0},
  pages     = {11 Seiten},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The eVTOL industry is a rapidly growing mass market expected to start in 2024. eVTOL compete, caused by their predicted missions, with ground-based transportation modes, including mainly passenger cars. Therefore, the automotive and classical aircraft design process is reviewed and compared to highlight advantages for eVTOL development. A special focus is on ergonomic comfort and safety. The need for further investigation of eVTOL's crashworthiness is outlined by, first, specifying the relevance of passive safety via accident statistics and customer perception analysis; second, comparing the current state of regulation and certification; and third, discussing the advantages of integral safety and applying the automotive safety approach for eVTOL development. Integral safety links active and passive safety, while the automotive safety approach means implementing standardized mandatory full-vehicle crash tests for future eVTOL. Subsequently, possible crash impact conditions are analyzed, and three full-vehicle crash load cases are presented.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PfaffBabilon2023,
  author    = {Pfaff, Raphael and Babilon, Katharina},
  title     = {Railway Challenge - moderne Auflage der Rainhill Trials?},
  series = {Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau : ETR ; Impulsgeber f{\"u}r das System Bahn},
  volume    = {2023},
  journal   = {Eisenbahntechnische Rundschau : ETR ; Impulsgeber f{\"u}r das System Bahn},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {DVV Media Group},
  address   = {Hamburg},
  issn      = {0013-2845},
  pages     = {55 -- 58},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Die IMechE Railway Challenge wird j{\"a}hrlich in Stapleford, Großbritannien ausgetragen. Im Rahmen der Challenge entwickeln und bauen Studierende eine Lokomotive und vergleichen sich in verschiedenen Disziplinen, darunter eine automatisierte Zielbremsung, optimale Energier{\"u}ckgewinnung beim Bremsen und minimale Ger{\"a}uschemissionen. Neben diesen und weiteren technischen Wettbewerbsdisziplinen treten die Fahrzeuge und die Teams auch in nicht-technischen Disziplinen wie einer Business Case Challenge an.},
  language  = {de}
}