High-tech company Q.ANT and Fraunhofer IPA are partnering to establish the Competence Centre Human-Machine-Interface in Stuttgart. The center aims to interpret nerve signals from muscle activity to control machines and devices, potentially allowing intuitive control of hand prostheses. Q.ANT, a leader in quantum technology-based magnetic field sensors, and Fraunhofer IPA, with over 15 years of expertise in biomechatronics and biosignal processing, will collaborate on this innovative project. The partnership will involve developing algorithms to convert sensor data into control commands for the prosthesis and testing with patients.
Q.ANT and Fraunhofer IPA Collaborate to Develop Quantum Technology for Prosthetics
Q.ANT, a high-tech company specializing in quantum technology, and Fraunhofer IPA, a renowned research institute, have recently signed an agreement to establish the Competence Centre Human-Machine-Interface. The primary objective of this collaboration is to interpret nerve signals from muscle activity, which could potentially enable intuitive control of hand prostheses in the future.
Q.ANT has been instrumental in the development of magnetic field sensors based on quantum technology. Urs Schneider, Head of Biomechatronics Research at Fraunhofer IPA, acknowledges the importance of Q.ANT’s sensor in reading biosignals due to its fine sensitivities. The Competence Centre, located in Stuttgart, will comprise approximately 15 experts from both research and industry.
Quantum Sensor Technology: A New Frontier in Prosthetics Control
The collaboration aims to control prosthetic hands using neural impulses, similar to how healthy limbs function. Michael Förtsch, CEO of Q.ANT, believes that their partnership with Fraunhofer IPA, which has proven expertise in biomechatronics, can lead to the development of innovative applications in medical technology. This partnership places them at the forefront of the promising field of quantum sensor technology application, redefining the human-machine-interface.
Q.ANT has been developing a magnetic field sensor based on quantum technology for five years. This sensor is unique due to its sensitivity, size, and ability to operate at room temperature. Fraunhofer IPA, with over 15 years of expertise in biomechatronics and biosignal processing, will characterize biosignals to program algorithms that convert sensor data into control commands for the prosthesis.
Patient Testing and Prosthesis Prototype Development
The Fraunhofer Institute will also conduct a series of tests with patients. The results of these tests will be crucial in the development of prosthesis prototypes. This collaborative effort between Q.ANT and Fraunhofer IPA aims to develop innovative prosthesis control systems.
About Q.ANT and Fraunhofer IPA
Q.ANT is a high-tech start-up that develops and industrializes photonic quantum technologies. The company is pushing the boundaries to new fields of application and processes. Q.ANT is working on technologies for data generation and data processing by developing quantum sensors and photonic processors. The company has four product lines: Photonic Computing, Particle Metrology, Atomic Gyroscopes, and Magnetic Sensing. Q.ANT employs around 100 people at its Stuttgart site.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA) is one of the largest institutes in the Fraunhofer-Society, with almost 1,200 employees. The institute’s research focuses on organizational and technological tasks in production. Fraunhofer IPA focuses its research on the economic production of sustainable and personalized products.
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