Safety

HFC provides services to help optimize the safety and reliability of industries, which require high levels of reliability. Those include, among others:

• Safety analysis and safety audits
• Analysis of incidents and accidents
• Constitution and operation of safety management
• Human factors concepts
• Process and organization design, change management

Our approach is based on the consideration of the complex interactions between teams of people, technical systems, and their organizational environment. The basic principles of our work are high levels of expertise, experience and confidentiality in respect to such safety issues.

In a joint project between Germany and Israel researching civil security research, under the project management of the Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB, Physical-Technical Federal Institute), HFC and the other project partners researched the detection of hazardous materials in cargo. The aim of the joint project ACCIS is to build a demonstration system for the automatic detection of explosives and radioactive material in cargo. To achieve this goal, an innovative screening method is being researched and tested, in which the evaluation is carried out automatically. The possibilities of utilizing such technology at airports and border crossings are examined, including the analysis of legal frameworks and acceptance of procedures.

In the context of project TUSIMA (tunnel simulation and human factors analysis), the impact of tunnel geometries on human feelings and behavior was examined using real-time simulations. A model of human behavior was implemented that takes into consideration the effects of behavioral patterns on safety. The tunnel simulator that was realized within the scope of this project has a unique focus on human-related safety factors which makes it the only one of its kind in the world; opening up a wide spectrum of new possibilities for a safety-enhanced planning of tunnels used for traffic.

A selection of our projects in the field of safety:

Advanced (mobile) information- and communication technology in control rooms

The rapid introduction of ICT in the occupational world poses research questions regarding their usage advantages and disadvantages. In industries with increasing automation and in advanced traffic facilities and energy ... Weiterlesen

Kamäleon

The aim of the Kamäleon project is to further develop kickTrike©, an electric lightweight vehicle by Constin GmbH. It is specially designed for urban and intermodal transport. It can transport ... Weiterlesen

INTUITIV – Intuitive-nonverbal and informative-verbal Robot-Human-Communication

INTUITIV is a BMBF-funded joint project in which HFC teams up with the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, GESTALT Robotics GmbH, Johannesbad Saarschleife AG & Co KG and ... Weiterlesen

KUKoMo

New concepts for the implementation of collaborative assembly systems for small and fluctuating production sizes as well as their successful introduction into SMEs Objective of this project is to support ... Weiterlesen

BAuA Roboethics

Blame the robot! Attribution of accountability in human-robot interaction “Roboethics” is a well acknowledged new branch of applied ethics focussing on aspects of accountability in the realm of action theory ... Weiterlesen

BAuA – Trends in Human-Robot Cooperation

The cooperation and direct interaction of humans and robots as part of the same team is one of the most dynamic and attracting research topics of the last decade in ... Weiterlesen

ensure – Improved Crisis Management in Urban Areas

The ensure project is developing concepts for a greater involvement of the local population in disaster relief. It focuses on citizens, who can assist the emergency services with their professional knowledge.

BAuA Firefighters – Usage of New I&C Technologies for Emergency Services to Assist the Measurement and Interpretation of Vital Signs

A mathematical model that can include a wide variety of physical parameters has been developed, which can measure the workload/strain of fire fighters.

TUSIMA – Tunnel Simulation and Human Factors Analysis

The purpose of the project was to develop a generic tunnel simulator, which could derive a tunnels safety-potential regarding human-related risk factors, in order to make appropriate safety recommendations.

ACCIS – Automatic Cargo Container Inspection System

The aim of the joint project ACCIS is the creation of a demonstration system used for the automatic detection of cargo with traces of explosives and/or radioactive material. For this purpose, a novel screening method is also to be explored and tested.