Collaboration with TU Chemnitz: glove for controlling an industrial robot

As part of the course “Development of mechatronic systems”, the three students Leonie Bolt, Eeman Saifee and Kieran Rottonara, who are in their fifth semester of the Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics/Robotics at UAS Technikum Wien, traveled to Chemnitz University of Technology for a week in December to continue working on the externally supervised project with their supervisors. The trip was supported by the International Office.

The student team with their supervisor Anilkumar Akhilraj: (from left to right): Kieran Rottonara, Akhilraj Anilkumar, Leonie Bolt and Eeman Saifee.

The task of the project was to further develop the joints of a haptic glove in addition to the extensive preliminary work already carried out in Vienna. This glove, coupled with virtual feedback, should later be able to control a teleoperated industrial robot.

Workspace with collaborative articulated robot

On Sunday, the day of arrival, the students were warmly welcomed at Chemnitz Central Station by Anilkumar Akhilraj, who had already provided the team with technical support via web meetings, and invited for a meal.

The work began on Monday morning. The TU employs 2,000 people in eight faculties, the largest of which is the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The student team worked at the “Assembly and Handling Technology” professorship, headed by Prof. Dr. Maik Berger, who has also been teaching courses at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien for many years, which is how the idea for this project came about.

Professor Berger welcomed the team on Monday morning and explained the organizational plan for the week.

A separate workroom was prepared for the students, with a collaborative articulated robot UR5, computers and their own W-LAN, providing optimal working conditions on all days. Picture 2 shows the team with Anilkumar Akhilraj in a project discussion in which the virtual environment is being tested with the glove.

The student team with their supervisor Anilkumar Akhilraj testing the virtual environment (from left to right): Leonie Bolt, Kieran Rottonara, Eeman Saifee and Akhrilraj Anilkumar.

On Wednesday morning, Professor Berger took the time to give the students a brief insight into the campus, one of four parts of the university in the city. Among other things, they were able to visit the test field of his professorship, where some machines, such as textile machines or handling systems, were explained to them and shown in operation.

Invited to the Christmas party

They were also able to take a look at the lecture halls in a lecture hall building, the largest of which can accommodate up to 700 students. The university has several student residences that are easily accessible and affordable. In the afternoon, the professorship’s Christmas party took place, to which the Viennese students were also invited. They traveled to Annaberg-Buchholz, a small town in the Ore Mountains. After a tour of the Erzgebirg Museum with many traditional objects, such as Christmas pyramids and candle arches, and a subsequent visit to the Christmas market, they hiked up the 832-metre-high Pöhlberg and to the mountain hotel there to have dinner together.

On Thursday, the students were given the opportunity to present the current status of their project to both supervisors and other members of the professorship and to receive valuable feedback in the subsequent discussion.

Exploring Chemnitz city center

On Thursday evening, the students went on a city tour with Professor Berger in Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025, which also took them to the city’s landmark: the Karl Marx Monument, the second largest portrait bust in the world at over seven meters high.

Karl Marx Monument in Chemnitz at night

They then went to the historic university library in the city center.

On Friday, the students finished their work and returned the workroom to its original state before saying goodbye to everyone and thanking them warmly.

Exciting insights into Chemnitz University of Technology

“Looking back, we can say that the week was a success for both the project and for us students. We made very good progress with our project very quickly because we received very good and detailed support and guidance from both supervisors, especially from Anilkumar Akhilraj. It was exciting to gain an insight into a technical university and also to get to know the city of Chemnitz and the “Christmas Land” Erzgebirge,” says student Leonie Bolt. “Many thanks to our two supervisors and also to the International Office for the financial support!”