Exoskeletons, tracking headphones and a new AI model at the Hannover Messe

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its support for production processes is one of the main topics at this year's Hannover Messe, which begins at the end of March and which has now been previewed in the trade fair city. AI has long been used in various areas of industry. In recent years, the trade fair has attracted more and more technology enthusiasts in addition to industry representatives, especially since CeBIT was last held in 2018.

Extended Long Short Term Memory (xLSTM) is a new architecture for AI language models that is said to be superior to transformer models such as ChatGPT. The inventor Sepp Hochreiter was convinced of this at the pre-event. The co-founder of the AI company NXAI says that his further development of the Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), for which he laid the foundations back in the early 1990s, will bring major benefits for the industry and its real-time applications. In contrast to the Transformer models, xLSTM is said to offer better performance and scalability. The project is an open source platform in which researchers and companies can participate.

Tracking and analysis via headphones

Another open source project from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is coming to Hanover in the form of "OpenEarables". These are AI headphones developed by Tobias Röddiger, which are primarily able to read biodata from the body and are intended to improve communication in noisy environments. The device is primarily intended for use in industry, medicine and care. In addition to the familiar biodata tracking, the headphones' built-in sensors can also detect tongue and jaw movements during silent speech or monitor the user's breathing rate. The OpenEarable 2.0 model is intended to provide a platform for researchers and companies to further develop the technology and adapt it to their needs. The product is currently the best sensor-equipped headphones on the market, the developer told us. Both the hardware and firmware as well as the software are provided with the MIT open source license.

The headphones are one of the many products that will be presented by over 4000 exhibitors from March 31 to April 4. These include more than 300 start-ups. In addition to the overarching theme of AI, the focus will increasingly be on smart manufacturing, digital ecosystems, hydrogen and engineering solutions. This year's partner country is Canada, which will be present with more than 200 of its own exhibitors.

The world's lightest battery-powered exoskeleton

With its "IX Back Volton", SuitX by ottobock is presenting its first battery-powered exoskeleton at the Hannover Messe. According to the company, it is the lightest of its kind – it weighs 4.8 kilograms. The device is designed to support people in lifting, walking and carrying when they are working in a physically demanding job. The integrated AI should be able to analyze movement patterns and provide its users with continuous optimal support in situations involving a lot of physical strain. The main aim of the device is to prevent ailments and maintain physical health. Like its predecessors, the exoskeleton will primarily be used in logistics and assembly.

SuitX will also be presenting the new "Airgo XP" analysis device. This uses a specially programmed cell phone to measure employees' movements and the associated strain. This is done by recording movements and posture. This data can then be used to implement preventive measures such as the correct execution of movements or control of stress phases.

Both heise online and c't will be reporting from and about the Hannover Messe from March 31.

(tlz)