12 June 2025

Mobility aids in the healthcare sector are set to become even safer, more personalised and more fault-tolerant in the future: Jiayi Wang, Professor of Electrical Engineering/Power Electronics at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, is launching the KIMobil research project as part of the Carl Zeiss Foundation's CZS Research Start funding programme. The aim is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to control so-called BLDC motors (brushless DC motors), such as those used in electric pushing aids, more intelligently.

BLDC motors are characterised by high efficiency, durability and low costs, but place high demands on the control technology. Reliability is essential in the healthcare sector in particular - failure of the drives can have serious consequences. This is where KIMobil comes in: By integrating neural networks, the motor control system will be able to recognise error states in real time and react proactively. The AI-based control system not only offers increased fault tolerance, but also the option of making individual adjustments for users with different restrictions.

"With this project, we want to show the potential that lies in interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare and engineering," emphasises Prof. Wang. The results of KIMobil should also provide important impetus for further development in the fields of medical technology, drive technology and energy technology.

The project is funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation as part of the CZS Research Start programme.

About the Carl Zeiss Foundation

The Carl Zeiss Foundation has set itself the goal of creating scope for scientific breakthroughs. As a partner of excellent science, it supports both basic research and application-oriented research and teaching in the STEM disciplines (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). Founded in 1889 by the physicist and mathematician Ernst Abbe, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is one of the oldest and largest private science-promoting foundations in Germany. It is the sole owner of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. Its projects are financed from the dividends distributed by the two foundation companies.