In the area of vehicle structures, we focus on concept and design, calculation and testing, benchmarking, lightweight construction, passive safety and operational strength.

Both users and observers experience vehicles based on their attributes. The most important aspects for vehicle occupants are vehicle safety, comfort and an emotional driving experience. In addition to these aspects, the research area Vehicle Dynamics & Acoustics also investigates the effects of vehicles on their environment through noise emissions and tire wear. The research work can be divided into three main areas: tire properties, chassis functions and acoustics.

At ika, the development of vehicle drives has been a long-standing research area. Research and development in this sector are of paramount importance as we aim to create a future where mobility is environmentally sustainable and cost-effective, independent of fossil fuels. To achieve this, we work on two fronts: optimizing conventional systems, such as battery electric systems, and developing forward-thinking concepts.

Our approach goes beyond energy requirements; it is centered on meeting the needs of vehicle users. Factors like application scenarios, cost reduction, sustainability, and enhanced comfort are equally significant, directly influencing vehicle energy demands.

Connected and automated driving will significantly shape the future of mobility. In the research area Vehicle Intelligence & Automated Driving, the institute bundles the necessary competencies from conceptual design to system and function development to verification and validation for the realization of connected and automated vehicles and their functions. All aspects of the conflicting fields of sustainability, safety and mobility experience are considered equally. The research area researches and develops methods and tools for this purpose, both in simulation and for use in real vehicles. Thanks to the comprehensive research infrastructure, forward-looking research questions can be addressed efficiently and competently in direct bilateral projects or within the framework of sovereign research. The latest artificial intelligence methods, which are capable of solving the complex challenges of automated and networked mobility with a high degree of reliability and in a way that is comprehensible to humans, play a major role here.