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Fraunhofer inducted into Hall of Fame

June 07, 2002

Digital radio ensures interference-free radio reception in CD quality. To achieve digital-radio standards nevertheless requires a great deal of development work since the transmitter and receiver systems greatly differ from conventional, analog devices. During the conception phase of the XM Satellite Radio project, a Fraunhofer team convincingly outstripped its international competitors in the areas of system and component development. Remarkably, the researchers from the Institute of Integrated Circuits IIS managed to keep to the excruciatingly tight schedule leading up to the planned date of the first broadcast. "We conceived and tested a new design process especially for this project. This saved us many months of chip and prototype development time", says Michael Schlicht, head of the XM Radio project. And his colleague Ernst Eberlein adds: "We played a major role in the development and the specification of the XM system."

The institute has recently been honored for its contributions to the American satellite radio system: Ernst Eberlein and Stefan Lipp were inducted into the Space Foundation's Hall of Fame and awarded medals in recognition of outstanding achievement. Albert Heuberger, deputy director of the IIS, accepted a further medal on behalf of all remaining members of the research team. The Space Foundation is a non-profit organization which supports space activities. In 1988, it established the Hall of Fame to honor innovative projects that have helped to convert space technology into commercial applications. This year, the Space Foundation honored European nominees for the first time.

The criteria for induction into the Hall of Fame are above all positive market results and public recognition of a technology applicable to a broad range of applications, and the prospect of long-term success. Previous inductees include the innovators of both the Global Positioning System GPS and the digital satellite broadcasting system DirecTV.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft