Sebastian Schwendemann's doctorate, which was awarded on July 16 in Schweinfurt, is entitled "Transfer Learning for Predictive Maintenance Solutions". He completed it by the end of 2023 as an external doctoral student at Clausthal University of Technology, Institute for Software and Systems Engineering, in cooperation with the Institute for Reliable Embedded Systems and Communication Electronics at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Axel Sikora. In his doctoral thesis, Schwendemann, who now works as a group leader in computer science at Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH in Nordrach, asked the question of the extent to which a sufficiently large amount of labelled data of high quality is always available for the use of machine learning approaches for predictive maintenance solutions and how the results can be optimized despite a lack of such data. His approach is to use a newly developed level of abstraction in conjunction with transfer learning approaches and the further development of such an approach.
"Innovation is one of the Schaeffler Group's core values. We believe in the power of research and knowledge transfer as well as the development of people and ideas with potential", said Markus Gambihler, Head of Human Resources at Schaeffler Bearings & Industrial Solutions and Chairman of the Foundation Board at the award ceremony.
"I would like to congratulate Sebastian Schwendemann on this fantastic award for his excellent work, which was carried out with a great deal of diligence, concentration and inspiration. In addition to the personal aspects, this shows in particular that external doctorates are of special importance", said the proud doctoral supervisor Prof. Dr. Axel Sikora, who was present at the award ceremony.
Schaeffler FAG Foundation
The Schaeffler FAG Foundation has been promoting science, research and teaching in scientific and technical fields related to bearing technology for more than 40 years. The foundation forms a bridge between business and science for the ideas, visions and goals of people working at universities, in research and in companies. With the “Innovation Award” and a total of 18,000 euros, the foundation in Schweinfurt honored two outstanding doctorates and two bachelor theses in technology areas that are relevant to the foundation's purpose. In addition, on July 16, the “Future Technology Award”, endowed with 90,000 euros, with which the foundation promotes highly innovative research projects from universities, colleges or individual faculties and chairs, was also presented to a research project on AI-supported friction analysis in rolling bearings. In order to get young people interested in technology and related professions at an early age, the foundation also supports interdisciplinary projects in the STEM field as part of its support for schools in the Mainfranken region. Further information on the funding opportunities offered by the Schaeffler FAG Foundation: Future Technology Award | Schaeffler Group & Innovation Award | Schaeffler Group