Plug2drive The objective of the PLUG2DRIVE project is to increase the performance of a new electric bicycle through the implementation of an innovative gearbox system from space (Spacegear) in a lightweight, long range and cheap electric drive system that can be simply retro-fitted by hand to all traditional design of bicycle, according to ISO standard on bicycle manufacturing.

ALJOIN The ALJOIN Project will appraise the use of alternative non-fusion welding techniques for rail coaches, such as friction stir welding (FSW) using different grades of aluminium less susceptible to fusion weakening with the aim of improving the overall crashworthiness of the rail vehicles and therefore their safety. Performance criteria for aluminium welding in the new generations of rail vehicles will be defined and the performance of aluminium alloys shall be tested in both static and dynamic loadings. These tests shall be conducted in conjunction with finite element simulations to aid an analytical approach to the modelling of rail vehicles.

Cargospeed Scope of this project is to describe the structural calculations developed for the analysis of the main components of the CARGOSPEED mechanism comprising the WELLFLOOR structure, the pop-up structure, and the columns for the transmission of the axial and bending loading to the foundations. The calculations have been performed taking in consideration the last design of the structural components defined as WELLFLOOR

Trainsafe The aim of the TRAINSAFE thematic network is to promote and enhance the safety of the rail system. This will be achieved by bringing together rail operators, suppliers to the rail industry and academia in order to: • Encourage information exchange on safety-related issues such as technological innovation, standards, specifications and codes of practice. • Identify, prioritise and initiate future research activities.

Feasibility study for the development of a new gear system for high speed reduction ratios Manufacturers generally use two planetary gear trains in series to reduce speed and multiply torque from small electric motors. A nutating gear drivetrain could perform the same task with fewer drivetrain parts, lower-strength gear materials, higher overall reliability, and lower manufacturing cost. The study is aimed at demonstrating the technical feasibility of the new gear system for high speed reduction ratios. A prototype is designed, manufactured at tested to this purpose. The research builds on work that has previously been carried out by STAM for the space industry. This work has established the basic knowledge on the system and has stimulated significant interest in technology users and manufacturers

Application of a space born innovative gearbox system to the automotive sector Spacegear The project aimed at the application of an innovative gear drivetrain system (Spacegear) for the transmission of motion of electrically driven parts in a car, by means of the design, the development and the testing of a prototype of the system The application to be considered for the prototype manufacturing and testing has been identified and consisted in the car seat reclining device. The design and manufacturing of the Spacegear prototype for the seat reclining device have shown that the simple configuration of the reducer can yield to savings in sizes and in manufacturing costs with respect to similar devices existing on the market. This work stimulated significant interest from potential end users and manufacturers, and the extensive application to other industrial sectors is envisaged

Development of a space subsurface penetrometer based on a ultra-compact nutating gearbox Space exploration and, more in general, exploration in harsh environment, require autonomous, light and compact systems for soil investigation. The main goal of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a subsurface penetrometer based on a totally innovative compact gearbox system. A breadboard will be developed for testing in the laboratory in the proper environment. The Mole advances into the soil by an internal hammer system driven by a small electric motor and a gear reduction unit. To achieve the required reduction ratio a train of 4 planetary gears (involving 20 gears) was employed. As the volume and mass requirements are very stringent DLR would like to substitute the existing configuration with the Nutating Gear System, invented by Stam. This system would allow to reach the required reduction ratio with only one set of 4 bevel gears. In order to best exploit the characteristics of the system a novel configuration, called double-face, must be developed. Such configuration would allow a further reduction of the volume but has never been manufactured before.

Leapfrog IP The LEAPFROG IP Integrated Project attempts to modernise and ultimately transform the clothing sector into a demand-driven, knowledge-based, high-tech industry by exploitation of recent advances in a broad area of scientific technological fields ranging from nanotechnology and polymeric material science, robotics and innovative joining techniques,3D computer graphics and animation, to e-business and management research. If LEAPFROG IP research and development work reaches its objectives there will be enormous innovation and new business potential across the entire spectrum of textile, clothing, machinery and service companies in Europe. http://www.leapfrog-eu.org/LeapfrogIP/main.asp

Leapfrog CA Leapfrog CA (Coordination of multidisciplinary knowledge and Research Activities to support Leadership for European Apparel Production From Research along Original Guidelines) is a Coordination Action project. Leapfrog CA aims at the establishment of a "knowledge community" on intelligent apparel manufacturing technologies This objective will be achieved through effective coordination of 70 on-going research projects and networking of 37 key consortium representatives from 14 countries with the overall goal to satisfy the urgent need for an optimised holistic production and design chain and in the end to reach rapid global manufacturing through the concept of the Extended Smart Textile/Garment Organisation. http://www.leapfrog-eu.org/leapfrog-ca/main.asp

Avalon Principle objective of the AVALON project is the cross-sectoral development of novel hybrid textile structures integrating multifunctional Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) and the related processing techniques as well as design, simulation and organisational methodologies. They will enable the integration of such textile structures into novel high performance products in the fields of smart wearable systems and textile reinforcements for technical applications. The broader aim is to create new market perspectives in the textile sector by introducing emerging and highly promising non-textile technologies. Accordingly, cross-sectoral industrial networking for high value added products and services is the emerging paradigm answering to the growing complexity of today's rapidly changing market requirements. Members of such networks combine their complementary core competencies and share highly specialised knowledge about new materials, their properties and new processing procedures. Towards sustainable development and competitiveness, textile SMEs need to cross other, non-textile sectors and to target at non-textile markets. They become pro-active network partners for the co-operative development, manufacturing, marketing and recycling of high value added products and (integrated) services. http://www.avalon-eu.org/

TERAEYE The objective of TERAEYE is to develop an innovative range of inspecting passive systems, based on Terahertz (THz) wave detection, to detect harmful materials for homeland security. Main applications will be related to airports security systems, surveillance of crowded areas such as railway and metro stations; detection of chemical and biological harmful substances and hazards in post and goods. TERAEYE aims at a technological breakthrough in the THz sector through the development of a new fabrication process for cheap nano-fabricated 2-D matrix array of detectors that will strongly reduce the production cost of the THz sensors. These technological developments would constitute the basis for the longterm breakthrough introduction of totally new detection and scanning systems to be applied for security applications, thus opening up new market perspectives for a new set of products and services based on the passive THz detection, and thereby supporting a radical transformation in the security sector. http://www.teraeye.com/

X-GEAR The 135.000 European SMEs of the mechanical transmission sector producers of gears and gearing products rely on traditional technologies and are characterised by a general conservatism. However over the years the end products in which the gears are used have become more complex and are pushing the state of the art in new technology. Thus the requirement for more sophisticated and reliable gears become extremely important. The objective of X-Gear is the diffusion and the standardisation of novel technologies and new materials for a new generation of gears characterised by higher accuracy, resistance, reliability, and tribology properties. In this context X-GEAR plays a role in the competitiveness of European industry since aims to comply with the tighter and tighter requirements being put on the gear industry for lighter weight, higher torque transmissions and quieter, more efficient gear trains. Research activities will be focused on an innovative combination of: • New surface treatments based on Flame Spraying, PVD and Laser Shot Peening; • New materials based on nanopowders (namely ultradispersed fine diamonds) for the production of ultra-resistant gears; • Manufacturing and design tools and knowledge platform implementing guidelines and best practices developed in the project, for a wider diffusion of the project results to the IAGs and their members.