Selected projects completed in 2025
You can find other projects on the website of the FAV ZČU departments.
8J24FR005
Tight bounds for fractional colouring
The goal of the project is to improve the understanding of structural and algorithmic graph theory through detailed study of fractional coloring. The specific problems to solve include:
- Complete characterization of subcubic triangle-free graphs of fractional chromatic number more than 8/3.
- Proof that up to finitely many exceptions, the graphs of maximal degree at most four and clique number three have fractional chromatic number at most 11/3.
- Characterization of planar graphs of maximum degree five and fractional chromatic number four.
- Improving the bounds on the fractional chromatic number of planar graphs of girth five.
A further goal is to help the students and postdoctoral researchers gain or improve experience with research and establish new contacts.
Provider: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
Project leader: prof. RNDr. Tomáš Kaiser, DSc., Department of Mathematics
Solution period: 2024–2025
TK04020250
Modern methods for shape optimization of Francis turbines
The main goal of the project is significant improvement of methods for automatic design and shape optimization of Francis turbines, especially of their running wheels, for given working parameters which will be focused especially on better utility qualities of the turbines, such as, e.g., efficiency, unit flux or resistance to cavitation. Compared to the previous version of the method developed by this research team, all components of the method will be improved: new geometric description suitable for local refinement, substantial improvement of the developed solver for flow simulation and also optimization method itself, which will be based on a gradient-based method exploiting continuous adjoint optimization method and which will be newly formulated for this case.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: doc. Ing. Bohumír Bastl, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics
Solution period: 2022–2025
23-07924I
Advanced nanostructured metal coatings with superior mechanical properties and high thermal stability
The project deals with current problems in the science of nanostructured metallic materials, i.e., achieving their nanocrystalline structure and maintaining such a structure and properties at elevated temperatures. The objects of the research are magnetron sputtered copper and titanium-based coatings alloyed with elements that are immiscible in the solid-state with the base metal. It is assumed that atoms of the alloying elements, such as Ta, W, and Zr, will be adsorbed on the surface of growing nuclei of the base metal and will block their growth, contributing to the formation of a nanocrystalline structure. As the coating volume is formed, these adsorption layers will transform into grain boundary segregation layers and, under certain conditions, elevate the cohesive strength of the grain boundaries, improve mechanical properties of the base metal, and increase its recrystallization temperature. The relationships between the physicochemical properties of the segregating elements and the base metals and the phase-structural state of adsorption layers will be investigated in detail.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: Mariia Zhadko, VP4
Solution period: 2023–2025
23-07280S
Identification and compensation of imperfections and friction effects in joints of mechatronic systems
The project deals with the research of mechatronic systems whose target performance is potentially deteriorated by friction effects on one side and joint clearances allowing more free motion on the other side. The first aim is reliable modelling of joint imperfections, friction effects and limits of their active compensations at the level of virtual prototypes in order to prevent late detection of unreachability of target functionality on the machine. The problematic phenomena, namely the relative velocity reversals in joints, a combination of friction and clearances, and the stick-slip effect will be investigated from the point of view of identification, modelling and active compensation in the real joints. The compromise between the minimization of friction effects and prevention of clearances by mechanical optimization and control strategies will be investigated related to accuracy of motion control and dynamic properties synthesis. The reliability of modelling, identification and compensation strategies will be tested by virtual prototypes as well as by partial demonstrators.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: doc. Ing. Michal Hajžman, Ph.D., KME a VP3
Solution period: 2023–2025
23-07031S
Ellipsoidal modelling of planetary gravitational fields
Physical geodesy is an intriguing subject dealing with the gravitational field modelling. The standard conceptual model of the gravitational field determination, however, does not represent an adequate framework for contemporary and near-future investigations of solar system bodies and for the state-of-the-art sensors collecting diverse types of gravitational observations. In this project, we will formulate a novel potential theoretic basis for the high-resolution gravitational field modelling of oblate planetary bodies in the analytical form. These major theoretical developments will comprehensively reflect the current and foreseen technological progress in observational techniques, thus all quantities from the gravitational potential up to the components of the third-order gravitational tensor. We will find original solutions to highly challenging problems of physical geodesy by completing the ellipsoidal Meissl scheme, answering the justification of the analytical continuation of gravitational field parameters, and developing a modern method for estimating mass redistribution.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: doc. Ing. Michal Šprlák, PhD., Department of Geomatics
Solution period: 2023–2025
23-06220S
Flexoelectric periodic structures for fluid transport and energy harvesting
The project is aimed at exploitation of the flexoelectricity phenomenon to design periodic porous structures used for energy harvesting or fluid transport due to time-space actuation by electric field. A methodology will be developed to optimize topology and geometry of microstructures composed of dielectric, piezoelectric, and metallic materials. Multiscale mathematical modelling and experiments on 3D printed locally polarized samples will enable to explore theoretical possibilities and real limitations of such flexoelectric periodic structures functionality, especially local polarization production due to deformation concentration in response to dynamic fluid-structure interaction at the pore level. Macroscopic models capturing these phenomena will be developed by the higher order homogenization while respecting geometrical nonlinearities. Algorithms for reducing the computational complexity of multiscale numerical models will be proposed. For 3D printing of flexoelectric porous composites, techniques based on simultaneous localized polarization will be developed.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: prof. Dr. Ing. Eduard Rohan, DSc., KME a VP3
Solution period: 2023–2025
TK05010177
DataScience tools for the regulatory domain (DS4Reg)
The main goal is the development of innovative Data Science methods to increase the information and statistical harvesting of data stored at ERÚ and the automation of ERÚ's internal processes.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: Ing. Martin Střelec, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
41102024
Dotace na přípravu strategického projektu „TOPSIDE – Toolkit for production of semiconductors in Europe“
Za ZČU / FAV žádáme o dotaci na podporu přípravy strategického projektu TOPSIDE (Horizon Europe / CHIPS JU). V případě úspěchu projekt přinese průlom a zásadní know-how v oblasti high-tech mechatroniky, robotiky a umělé inteligence pro výrobu polovodičů a elektronických komponent. Dále se předpokládá spolupráce v souvisejícím materiálovém výzkumu. V projektu je definována spolupráce s klíčovými EU leadery, např. NXP Semiconductors, Analog Devices, ThermoFisher, ITEC, AMS-Osram, X-FAB, Semilab, MuRata apod. a výzkumnými institucemi typu TU/e, VTT, Tyndall, EDI. Celkem očekává účast až 40ti partnerů z 12ti států EU s celkovými náklady až 1mld Kč.
Provider: Krajský úřad Plzeňského kraje
Project leader: Ing. Martin Čech, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2024–2025
VJ01010108
VJ01010108 Share Robust processing of recordings for operations and security
The project is proposed by two top Czech research groups working in the field of speech data mining: BUT Speech@FIT (Brno) and Department of Cybernetics of University of West Bohemia (Pilsen). Its goal is to unify and coordinate R&D in the area of speech data mining from realistic recordings and tight cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The project aims at robust automatic speech recognition, determination who speaks when in a recording (diarization) and querying by acoustic examples. The investigated technologies build on a common framework of neural architectures for machine learning. The planned outputs include 5 software tools that will be tested by two units of Czech Police. The project also foresees an intensive international cooperation on both scientific and LEA levels.
Provider: MVČR
Project leader: Ing. Luboš Šmídl, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2020–2025
FW03010025
Therapeutic rehabilitation robot controlled by brain signals
The main goal of the project will be to develop a therapeutic rehabilitation robot in which the process of re-education of the patient's upper limb momentum will be controlled directly through signals from his brain using a brain-computer interface (BCI). The developed robot will also use information from position, force and torque sensors, which will enable optimal rehabilitation of limb momentum by the robot and will also provide diagnostic validation of the treatment process. In addition to the above attributes, the robot will excel in the possibilities of Internet connectivity, full use of the possibilities of virtual reality and the principles of artificial intelligence will be applied in its control. It will also include an intelligent diagnostic system with the help of which it will be possible to objectively assess the success of therapy and optimize it.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: Ing. Pavel Mautner, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Solution period: 2021–2025
TM03000049
Advanced robotics for non-destructive inspection in harsh environments
The aim of the project is to enhance sensors, HW, SW and structure of the robotic devices (standard industrial robot and/or non-standard architecture robot prototypes) in such a way that the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) applications may be effectively implemented in harsh industrial environments (dust, water, vibrations, radiation, etc.). The components will be integrated and the whole technology will be validated on two pilots apps: tube weld inspection in power plants (CZ), composite materials inspection (CN). Both will use common approaches and components such as: robot complex path planning and optimization in 3D, obstacle avoidance algorithms, trajectory learning, vision sensors, visualisation and HMI. TRL shift from 4-7 is expected and roadmap towards TRL9 is defined.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: Ing. Martin Čech, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2022–2025
22-00863K
Controllable metamaterials and smart structures: Nonlinear problems, modelling and experiments
The project aims to broaden the current concept of passive metamaterials (MM) in the form of periodical structures towards a new class of smart controllable MM which open new perspectives for engineering applications. These new periodic structures are constituted by elastic and viscoelastic materials combined with controllable electroactive materials with piezo-electric, electro- and magneto-strictive properties. By incorporating such tailored electroactive components into the locally periodic microstructures, and by providing suitable mechanisms for their active control, it will be possible to tune dynamic properties of such new MM in time. Nonlinear response of electroactive MM and their behavior as controllable actuators in the context of controlling wave processes, internal attenuation, frequency bands, energy harvesting will be studied. Designing of such MM requires the synergy of multiscale and multi-physics continuum modelling, homogenization, advanced numerical methods, optimization and experimental validation.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: prof. Dr. Ing. Eduard Rohan, DSc., KME a VP3
Solution period: 2022–2025
NAVISP-EL1-056
Advanced Algorirhms and Techniques for Resilient Time Provision
The project is devoted to the accurate and reliable estimation of the ensemble time scale based on the statistical processing of an ensemble of particular time scales (clock measurements) which are of different accuracy and providers (physical clocks, internet time protocols, etc.). The goal of the project is the hardware and software solution for the ensemble time scale computation at TRL 5 to be tested at ESA facility.
Provider: EXPRO+
Project leader: doc. Ing. Jindřich Duník, Ph.D., Department of Cybernetics
Solution period: 2022–2025
23-05947S
Ab-initio guided investigation of refractory metal-based high entropy ceramic coatings
The project aims to predict stable phases and properties of new Cr-Hf-Mo-Ta-W and CrMn-Mo-Si-Y based high entropy ceramics, synthesising them as coatings and analysing relations between the deposition parameters, physical processes taking place during the plasma-based deposition, the coating structure and coating properties. All the elements in each system were chosen for their intrinsic properties, for their effect on the properties of commonly used alloys as well as for their synergistic behaviour. The parameters of the deposition process will be based on the ab-initio modelling, and they will be varied in a range of conditions with regards to the energy flux during the coating growth and to the composition of the deposited coatings to synthesise coatings with significantly different phase compositions and microstructure. The focus will be given to the study of the coatings at high temperatures allowing for an understanding of the basic physical processes such as confirming the presence of high entropy phase stabilisation and comparison of ab-initio calculations and experiment.
Provider: Czech Science Foundation
Project leader: prof. Ing. Petr Zeman, Ph.D., Department of Physics
Solution period: 2023–2025
101095835
AgrarSense - Smart, digitalized components and systems for data-based Agriculture and Forestry
AgrarSense project initiative aims to develop microelectronics, photonics, electronic packaging for agricultural and forestry. The project will also develop related ICT and data management level to realise large scale field demonstrators for real industrial needs.
Provider: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports - HEU_ECSEL/JU
Project leader: Ing. Tomáš Mildorf, Ph.D., VP6
Solution period: 2023–2025
101097267
OPEVA - Optimization of Electric Vehicle Autonomy
The project OPEVA aims for innovation on aggregating information from the vehicle, not only from the battery but also from other internal sensors and behaviours, to create a model of performance and consumption specific to the individual vehicle and its driver (TD1).
Provider: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports - HEU_ECSEL/JU
Project leader: Ing. Martin Střelec, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
FW06010545
Development of a proven technology of a robotic workplace for non-contact measurement of car windows
The goal of the project plan of MIKRON plus s.r.o. will develop a new proven technology of a robotic workplace for non-contact measurement of car windows. The project is a continuous follow-up to the FV30431 project entitled "Research and development of a new technology for non-contact measurement and inspection of car windows", in which the utility model of technology for non-contact measurement of car windows was developed and registered. This already developed technology will be part of a larger - production unit - which, however, needs to be developed so that it is efficient and as accurate as possible and represents a significant shift in the accuracy and simplicity of measuring car windows on the market, so that the company offers a competitive result in an international environment.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: prof. Ing. Miloš Schlegel, CSc., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
TM04000031
Advanced AI-based robotics of complex industrial component inspection and assembly and its demonstration applications
Aim of the project is to develop, validate and implement production technology for evaluation of flaws during inservice ultrasonic inspections of implemented especially TOFD and PAUT ultrasound methods for selected inspection areas by machine learning methods, including preparation of draft implementation of NDT qualification of inspection procedures using machine learning methods to identify segments of inspection areas with potential flaw indications for further evaluation by a qualified inspector. - Develop and optimize an available robotic system by incorporating machine learning module for evaluating inservice inspections and efficient positioning of NDT probes, including the possibility of intuitive programming. The aim is common development of common components and their testing on two pilot apps CZ / CN
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: Ing. Marek Hrúz, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
FW06010052
Design of a high-speed ring spindle using a digital twin
The ELS40K project aims to develop a high-speed textile spindle using advanced simulation and testing methods. The aim is to design, develop and implement a prototype ring spindle for spinning machines that will be operable at speeds up to 40,000 rpm. The project also aims to: - Create a digital twin of the spindle under development using a set of suitable modelling and simulation methods allowing the key properties of the spindle to be verified during the design work on the 3D model. - Development and implementation of test methods to verify the outputs obtained from the digital twin, including special test stations using Industry 4.0 elements to automate data collection and monitoring of the spindle.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: doc. Ing. Jindřich Liška, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
TM04000019
Robust Navigation System
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the most used navigation system. However, the position determination is affected by various interferences, intentional (Jamming, Spoofing) or unintentional (atmosphere reflection/refraction, scintillations, multipath or unwanted RF transmissions, etc.), that can drastically affect the performance of the GNSS receiver. The project objective is: - Design, develop and validate a navigation system prototype robust to GNSS Jamming & Spoofing - Compare advanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing methods - Define a certification strategy of the robust solution for the commercial aviation market - Assess the market potential of the robust prototype enhanced with advanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities.
Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: doc. Ing. Ondřej Straka, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
CZ.01.01.01/01/22_002/0000463
Artificial intelligence for extracting structured data from archival documents
Creating a solution for a user selectable and easy to train OCR tool for specific input.
Provider: Ministry of Industry and Trade - OP TAK-APLIKACE
Project leader: Ing. Ivan Gruber, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
CZ.01.01.01/06/23_014/0001360
Edge computing and deep learning for traffic data collection and vehicle identification
The project aims to enhance mobility and knowledge transfer between the corporate and application spheres in order to support and accelerate the development of a software product that, using edge computing and neural networks, enables continuous collection of traffic statistics in urban environments based on image analysis from tens to hundreds of cameras connected to the city camera system with simultaneous tracking of the vehicles between the cameras.
The expected outputs of the project are:
- SW tools in the form of documented Python scripts for optimizing neural network models for their use on end devices (e.g. cameras)
- Optimized models for collecting traffic statistics
- Documented SW tools for training models for vehicle tracking between cameras
- Models for vehicle tracking between cameras retrained for the European urban environment and traffic
The project is in line with the specific objectives of the RIS 3 strategy and aims to fulfill the specialization domain "Technologically advanced and safe transport", where it has a direct link to KET Artificial Intelligence and Digital Security and Connectivity with a connection to the VaVAI topic for the Autonomous Mobility domain.
Provider: Ministry of Industry and Trade - OP TAK_PZT
Project leader: Ing. Marek Hrúz, Ph.D., VP1
Solution period: 2023–2025
CZ.01.01.01/06/23_014/0001362
Control Valve Innovation
TechConcept s.r.o. has identified an opportunity to exploit the potential of new additive and laser technologies to innovate control valves for high pressure gradient mitigation. For the development of their internal parts, however, it did not have the necessary expertise in metal 3D printing, laser hardening or welding and numerical flow simulation. It therefore intends to acquire this knowledge by transferring it from University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Department of Materials and Engineering Metallurgy and Department of Mechanics.
Provider: Ministry of Industry and Trade - OP TAK_PZT
Project leader: prof. Ing. Jan Vimmr, Ph.D., KME a VP3
Solution period: 2024–2025
CZ.01.01.01/01/22_002/0000471
Development of new solutions for smart care and development of quality in social services
The goal of the presented project of DelpSys s.r.o. is the research and development of a new solution for smart shared care and the development of quality in social services. The use of assistive technologies will enable the prevention of unwanted conditions/situations, monitoring and diagnosis of selected parameters, and the SW part of the system, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, evaluates, analyzes and presents proposed solutions for social care workers and informal caregivers. Multidisciplinary research and development within the presented project plans to achieve the following outputs: a functional sample of a portable module for monitoring the quality of work with a client at the bedside, a functional sample of the portable module "Weekly analytical case" and a SW module for smart shared care of the elderly. The resulting system will be intended for field social service providers, with a primary focus on services for the elderly. Research and development is based on the "human centered design" method, where individual parts and modules will be designed to ensure maximum friendliness for all actors involved. It aims not to burden the clients of social services (by the size or complexity of measuring devices), nor the workers of social services (guaranteeing the user-friendliness of applications in the system, support and motivation, simple communication between actors and clear records of information). The new solution for field social services will be among the unique ones on the Czech market. At the moment, there is no known competitor that would offer all the new functionalities as a single solution package. Successful commercialization of project outputs will strengthen the position of the applicant on the market and enable him to penetrate foreign markets. The outputs of the project also have positive social benefits - their use in practice supports the concept of shared care for the elderly in the home environment, increases the quality of their lives and the lives of informal caregivers. A new tool for planning, coordinating and evaluating home care for the elderly will be available for the social services sector, which improves the quality and efficiency of services. Ultimately, the pressure on social services is easing in the context of demographic ageing.
Provider: Ministry of Industry and Trade - OP TAK-APLIKACE
Project leader: Ing. Martin Dostal, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Solution period: 2024–2025
CES734/2023
Storage, transfer and processing of large scientific and research financial data in the e-INFRA CZ environment
This project aims to design, validate and make available to e-INFRA CZ users a methodology for migration and efficient storage of big scientific-research financial data in an object data repository and their subsequent processing in the MetaCentre environment. Challenging computational experiments based upon deep learning and artificial intelligence methods will be performed on the big data of volume in the order of tens of terabytes. One of the main outputs will be a case study describing the implementation and management of these experiments.
Provider: CESNET Development Fund
Project leader: Doc. Ing. Jan Pospíšil, Ph.D., VP5
Solution period: 2023–2025
Final report: http://hdl.handle.net/11025/61737
