In recent years, a thriving ecosystem for drones and robotics has developed in the greater Zurich region. Universities are driving technological progress through research, creating spin-offs and providing local tech firms with skilled professionals. However, there is a problem: “Many systems perform excellently under laboratory conditions, but we are still a long way from deploying autonomous drones operationally in airspace,” explains Michel Guillaume , Head of the Centre for Aviation (ZAV) of the School of Engineering . Drones are already in use in many sectors today, be this for surveying, in agriculture or by emergency services. With physical AI, however, a new generation of artificial intelligence is now emerging: systems that perceive their environment, make decisions and act in the real world. These systems confront us with new challenges, as important questions remain unanswered: How can it be ensured that they behave reliably and in an explainable manner in all situations? How can this be tested safely and in a reproducible manner? How can AI-based systems be validated in real-world use and how can they be certified? “In aviation, safety comes first. It takes ten to fifteen years before a new commercial aircraft type is approved and enters into service for an airline,” notes Martin Jajcay from the ZAV. “Autonomous systems such as drones offer promising areas of application, for example in disaster relief operations or logistics in remote locations. For such uses, however, the operational concepts, and in some cases also social acceptance, are still lacking.” «We need efficient processes in order to enable us to test systems more quickly under real-life conditions and to bring them to market.» Michel Guillaume, Head of the Centre for Aviation of the School of Engineering One challenge, for instance, is air traffic management, which becomes many times more complex when unmanned autonomous flying objects operate alongside conventional aircraft. “We simply still know too little about how systems based on probabilistic calculations behave when faced with extreme situations,” says Hella Bolck , a lecturer at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI) of the School of Engineering. “The systems need to be optimised in such a way that they function in all weather conditions and alongside other airspace users.” A key prerequisite for this is testing, testing, testing. The ZAV and CAI, together with the University of Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts , have launched the LINA (Shared Large-scale Infrastructure for the Development and Safe Testing of Autonomous Systems) project. The aim is to build a versatile research and testing infrastructure for autonomous systems and physical AI, especially at the interface between aviation and AI. The initiative is being supported by the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH). Industry partners such as Skyguide and Matternet are also contributing their expertise. The first site is already at an advanced stage: At the Hegmatten glider airfield in Winterthur, autonomous systems at any stage of maturity can be tested on an area spanning 700 by 30 metres. For Guillaume, the test site represents a long-overdue opportunity for academic groups in Switzerland conducting research in this field as well as for manufacturers of autonomous systems. “It is crucial to bring together all the expertise required for the development, testing and authorisation of these systems in Europe. Without nearby testing infrastructure, there is also a risk that companies will relocate, for example to the US or Canada.” The further advancement of these systems not only involves technological questions, but also regulatory considerations. The test site should therefore also be understood as a scientific instrument that systematically generates the specialist knowledge required to shape new regulations. “We need the expertise of specialists in AI and aviation to take all aspects of integrating AI into account,” says Guillaume. “Thanks to its broad interdisciplinary set-up, the ZHAW is ideally suited to this task.” «Testing beyond visual line of sight is essential for autonomous drones. For this, we require larger testing areas.» Hella Bolck, lecturer at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence of the School of Engineering The aim of the project is not to develop its own drones. Instead, LINA is positioning itself as a national point of contact for testing and for all questions relating to the development of physical AI and robotic systems. For a system to become operational, many elements are required: in addition to a sound design, functioning AI components and flight testing, this also includes, for example, noise testing, environmental testing and integration with other systems in both air and ground operations. “We need efficient processes that are accepted by the authorities in order to enable us to test systems more quickly under real-life conditions and also to bring them to market,” explains Guillaume in summarising the purpose of LINA. In order to become a competence centre for all matters relating to autonomous systems, the project leads work closely with manufacturers, other universities and authorities, and also engage in PR work. Guillaume stresses that the importance of social acceptance should not be underestimated. Even the best technology is of no use if the drones are so loud that they lead to noise complaints. In addition, the team maintains an international network. As a testing centre in the heart of Europe it offers a great deal of potential to attract researchers and manufacturers from other countries. The test site at Winterthur Hegmatten is therefore only the beginning for the project team. For tests beyond visual line of sight, it is in any case only suitable for drones weighing less than 25 kilograms, says Bolck. “Testing beyond visual line of sight is, however, essential for autonomous drones. For example, they have to be able to land safely if the connection is lost or the GPS signal fails. For this, we require larger testing areas.” Together with the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology ( Empa ), the ZHAW is planning a nationwide network of test sites covering at least 10 square kilometres. The application has already been submitted, and there is no doubt that the demand is there – enquiries from parties interested in testing have been received on an almost daily basis. Guillaume is convinced: “LINA is making a decisive contribution to the next stage of development in AI: systems that not only process data, but act robustly and reliably in the real world. This is applied research at its best, which is precisely our strength.” Sara Blaser

Whereas in the past you could admire the frost patterns that formed on windows, modern windows ensure that neither heat nor cold can penetrate into buildings. Due to the tightening of legal requirements with respect to thermal insulation, it is expected that all windows installed before the year 2000 will be replaced by 2050. From an energy perspective, this makes sense. However, when it comes to waste flows, the picture is not so simple: producing multi-glazed windows is very resource-intensive and there is currently no recycling process for window glass. “Unfortunately, it is cheaper to dispose of flat glass in landfills than to pay the cost of separating old windows from their frames and recycling them. At present, 82 percent of flat glass ends up in landfills, while 18 percent is melted down together with bottle glass – which is actually downcycling. Although windows contain a lot of grey energy, recycling is not yet mandatory,” explains Michelle Schneider from the Institute of Constructive Design. «To recycle the window glass, it must first be separated from the window frames. The costs for the process exceed those of landfill disposal – a system that creates false incentives.» Michelle Schneider Schneider has been researching how to reuse or at least recycle windows for three years, initially as part of her thesis for her MA in Architecture and now as a research associate. When she learned about a replacement building project in close proximity to the School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering, she sensed an opportunity and launched a pilot project together with several industrial partners. All 375 window sashes from the demolished building were removed and carefully separated from their PVC frames. The recycling firm Sibelco tested whether the glass was suitable for producing new window glass. “The challenge was to ensure that 50-year-old windows meet the high purity requirements, as windows often have residues on them like plaster, adhesives or other mineral substances. There is also the risk of the windows being contaminated with other substances, such as tar, on demolition sites or during transportation,” explains Schneider. The first milestone of the project: the windows have met the purity requirements. They were melted down and are now being processed to make new windows that could eventually adorn the replacement building. The project will not be completed entirely without any additional resources, as the new building will have more windows than its predecessor and will use triple glazing instead of double glazing. “The costs of our process are still higher than those for landfill disposal, yet we are only at the beginning. If companies specialise in the recycling of windows, it will be possible to optimise the processes and achieve considerable cost reductions. However, the most important thing for the time being is to show that flat glass recycling is feasible with a little extra effort. This could open the door to mandatory recycling,” says Schneider. The potential impact is huge: “If all of the windows that are removed in Switzerland every year were melted down and reused, some 350 million kilograms of CO2 could be saved compared to producing windows from primary raw materials. That is roughly the same amount of emissions as if the entire population of Basel were to fly to New York.” Sara Blaser

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is probably something that not many people in our latitudes have ever heard of. The disease is, however, widespread in the equatorial region, says Ian Häusler, co-founder of DermatoTherma. At least 12 million people are currently affected by it. Triggered by the bite of a sandfly, the parasite nests in the lower layers of the skin, giving rise to ulcer-like wounds. “So far, the illness has been treated with a cocktail of drugs similar to chemotherapy”, says co-founder Davide Paparo. “The only device that has been approved so far is very expensive, heavy and can result in second-degree burns.” Davide Paparo, Using the hyperthermia device from DermatoTherma , however, the affected areas of the body are heated to 50 degrees centigrade for 30 seconds, thus killing the parasite. It was already known that this disease responds to hyperthermia treatment. But cutaneous leishmaniasis is a so-called neglected disease. Low profit expectations mean it receives little attention from medical research and the pharmaceutical industry. “The only device that has been approved so far is very expensive, heavy and can result in second-degree burns”, Paparo explains. On behalf of non-profit organisation DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative), the two systems engineering students took on the challenge of developing a reliable and affordable device as part of their Bachelor’s thesis. This involved optimising the hardware and finding a method for keeping the temperature constant and preventing burns. And they have certainly come up with a convincing result. With their business plan, they have already been able to secure grants from the Gebert Rüf Foundation (see box) and BRIDGE , a joint programme of the Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse. In addition, they are receiving support from the ZHAW Sustainability Booster – a programme that accompanies the founding of sustainable startups. “We were nervous about asking highly decorated professionals from eminent institutions for money”, Paparo admits, but “winning these competitions is naturally the best confirmation we could have had for our work.” Using the funds obtained, the team is aiming to complete the final device by the summer and then obtain medical certification from the US Food and Drug Administration. By February 2024, they hope to acquire another 1.8 million Swiss francs, which will be spent on manufacturing the first devices and hiring additional employees. The pair try to avoid venture capital as far as possible. "We are afraid that venture capitalists would push us to switch to more profitable markets too quickly", Paparo explains. The hyperthermia process is also used in other areas, such as in anti-wrinkle therapy. “While we are indeed planning to diversify into other markets over the longer term, the social impact is our main focus for the time being.” “Our advice for others wishing to start up in business: simply go ahead and do it.” Ian Häusler, Häusler attributes their success primarily to their motivation and commitment. “We have a goal in our sights and are working tirelessly toward it.” Paparo concedes that, because of the grants, they have not had to take on other jobs simply to put bread on the table. While Häusler is completing his Master’s in medical technology alongside his work for DermatoTherma, Paparo is devoting all his time to the young company. “The DNDi non-profit organisation is an eminent partner and is helping us to forge contacts. And we have workplaces and laboratory space at ZHAW, as well as specialist and business contacts there.” Despite this, a convincing product is what counts most. Their advice for others? “Simply go ahead and do it!” Häusler recommends. Over the past few months, both men have attended a number of courses for young entrepreneurs and benefitted enormously from them. “Who would have thought that interested companies would be contacting us even before we launched our products on the market?” says Paparo. Both of them certainly have their hands full. The market launch is planned for 2024 and they are aiming for DermatoTherma to be profitable by 2026. Other projects, such as collecting data for skin characteristics, are already being considered. First of all, however, the device is to be tested on people in one of the affected areas. This study is being organised by DNDi but the two founders don’t want to miss out on these first impressions. “We’ll be going too, as service technicians”, Häusler grins, “… and taking plenty of mosquito spray with us as well”, Paparo adds. Sara Blaser