Federal Ministry Of Research Research Articles

The development of the magnetically suspended transportation system in the federal Republic of Germany

The characteristics, contingent on magnetic suspension technology, and the research results obtained by now open up the possibility that today's long-distance transport can be improved using the magnetic suspension ground transport system. Besides efficiency and profitability, low influence on the environment, considerable preservation of resources, and a high degree of safety are important developmental objectives. The development of the magnetic suspension ground transport system is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology within the scope of the Ground Transport System Technologies program. It began about 1970 and is proceeding in controlled project phases. The level of the development and selection of components and the functional tests reached by now form a sufficient basis for the next step, i.e., development and testing of the system. The electromagnetic suspension technology is first applied with the long-stator propulsion. Belonging to a tracked transportation system, Maglev vehicles are extremely well adapted for automatic operation. The synchronous long-stator propulsion with active windings in the guideway and fixed frequency/speed ratio also meets all requirements for automatic operation. Modulation of speed and thrust is done by stationary frequency changers. Close contacts are maintained with several states that are also working on the development of new long-distance transport systems. As a result of the development two applications appear to be possible: the magnetic suspension ground transport system as a superimposed long-distance transport system, and the magnetic suspension ground transport system as a solution to specific transport tasks in the medium-distance range. The technical problems to be overcome prior to the introduction of the magnetic suspension ground transport system are clear today. After termination of the system tests, the operating tests, and the studies performed in parallel, the decisions which will then be necessary can be made on a firm basis.

The index line as a new aid in clinical and forensic toxicology

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology, we investigated the use of electronic data processing for clinical toxicological purposes. Initially, sufficient funds were available for a comprehensive approach to the problem and programs covering the following areas were established: 1. A casuistic data program; 2. an identification program for wild fruits; 3. a program for the identification of tablets by their shapes. Due to a subsequent lack of funds, it was necessary to develop a partial solution: this solution is what we call the Index Line. The Index Line--limited data on poisonings--should enable the user to receive information by telex from the German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information, i.e., information on "who has what, where". As a first step the continuous Index Line registration of all cases of poisoning recorded at the poison control centers in Munich, Freiburg, Hamburg, and Nürnberg as well as at the State Institute for Food, Pharmaceutical and Forensic Chemistry in Berlin was founded in 1975. To participate in the program, complete instructions are necessary.

Social implications of industrial robots: Project design and preliminary hypotheses

The Battelle Institute e.V., Frankfurt in co‐operation with IPA, Stuttgart, is carrying out a project sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology: “Social Implications of the Introduction of Industrial Robots into the Production Process”.

The Deutsches Historisches Institut Paris

After the archives of the Vatican were opened to historians in the later nineteenth century, research in Vatican as well as Italian sources was immeasurably aided by the establishment of a German historical institute and library in Rome together with a journal (Quellen und Forschungen aus italienischen Archiven und Bibliotheken) publishing pertinent articles, news and reviews. This far-sighted venture, which is still flourishing, inspired the creation of the Deutsches Historisches Institut Paris-Institut Historique Allemand, located at 9, rue Maspero in the 16th arrondissement. The Institute in Paris was founded in 1964, having evolved from the Deutsche Historische Forschungsstelle-Centre Allemand de Recherches Historiques, established in 1958. Like its counterparts in Rome and in London (opened in 1974), the German Historical Institute in Paris is subsidized by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology of the Bundesrepublik. Though primarily intended to promote research on French and German history and to ensure closer ties between the historians of both countries, the Institute, its library and facilities are open to scholars of all nationalities. One of its greatest attractions is an impressive collection of more than four hundred journals. Nowhere in Paris-probably nowhere else in France-is there assembled as varied an assortment of Ger-

The function of the freight distribution systems

To sum up it can be said that new or further developed systems of haulage must be found, especially in conurbations, in order to be able to cope efficiently with freight transport. The scheme here presented for freight distribution centres is one possibility which has been much discussed. The establishment of such a freight distribution centre in Koblenz by the end of 1976 could be regarded as a first step towards its realization. By means of this model which was generally planned by Dornier and which is open to visit, provides solutions for many problems. It is yet too early for a final evaluation of the entire system but approaches have been made to the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology for a research project and thus to a good starting point for realization.