Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020

quan-
tum communication
, basing its new initiative Quantum Communication Infrastructure (QCI) on the capa-
bilities, projects technologies of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). The Austrian Institute of Tech-
nology (AIT) is positioned as a key player in the most important initiatives and projects of the EU by 
managing and participating in two EU Flagship projects for quantum technology development, managing 
the EU-wide demonstration project for quantum communication and serving as the national representative 
of Austria in the EU-QCI coordination group.
In cooperation with industrial partners, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) developed alternative 
concepts for efficient cabin climate control in battery-powered electric vehicles. The heating and cooling 
demands of conventional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning modules currently restrict the actual 
range of battery-powered electric vehicles
under certain weather conditions. Using the driver cab of an 
electric truck as example, it was possible to reduce the energy demands by implementing intelligent, op-
timised climate control strategies in a testing facility. By developing and testing intelligent simulation 
approaches and models in a variety of predefined conditions (temperature, humidity, and sunlight), the 
concept of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) demonstrated significantly improved efficiency, en-
abling an increase in range of 6%.
At the Center for 
Vision, Automation and Control
, the research on 
measurement systems and qual-
ity control
has been continuously expanded to new domains of industry. State-of-the-art sensor and 
camera technology and expertise in the pre-processing of extremely high data rates make it possible to 
investigate research problems in high-speed applications as well as extremely high image resolutions. The 
applications range from a road scanner that will map the 3D structure of the road surface with a resolution 
of 60 µm at a speed of 130 km/h to the analysis of very fine structures in electronics and chip manufac-
turing. Extremely high data rates are processed by intelligent algorithms – generally in real-time. Compu-
tational imaging and AI technologies are used to inspect surface properties that are practically impossible 
to specify as well as flaw sizes that are difficult to quantify. These technologies are essential for enabling 
the analysis of certain glossy, metallic, reflective or black surfaces using camera systems.