The starry skies at Paranal are unreal, recalls Jan Foltýn
He managed to get into a team that takes care of a set of telescopes for observing the distant universe at the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
InstituteofMachineandIndustrialDesign
The Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, established in 1901, plays a crucial role in supporting the university's mission of delivering high-quality education and advancing research in mechanical engineering and industrial design. Through its innovative approach to teaching and research, the Institute contributes to shaping the future of engineering and offers valuable insights to academia and industry.
Mission and Vision
The Institute aims to educate technically oriented leaders and innovators by integrating high-quality teaching with top-tier research. This mission is supported by a vision to foster an environment where students are actively engaged in solving complex engineering problems, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges of modern engineering.
Education and Research
The Institute offers various undergraduate (B-KSI-P, B-PDS-P), graduate (N-KSI-P, N-PDS-P) and doctoral study programs (D-KPI-A) in the areas of mechanical engineering and industrial design, emphasizing a connection of theoretical knowledge and practical experience with a strong focus on project-based learning. Students are encouraged to participate in research projects and work closely with scientists, which enriches their educational experience beyond the curriculum.
Research at the Institute is organized into research groups, each focusing on critical areas such as:
- Advanced Lubrication,
- Wheel-Rail Interface Tribology,
- Biotribology,
- Additive Processing and Metrology,
- Smart Magnetic Systems,
- Product and Graphic Design.
To address real-world challenges, these research groups collaborate with national and international partners, including leading universities and industrial companies. The Institute's research has led to significant advancements, such as developing innovative tribological solutions for industry, advanced biomedical implants, and cutting-edge magnetorheological systems.
The Institute's commitment to research excellence is further demonstrated through its involvement in strategic projects, including the National Competence Centre for Mechatronics and Smart Technologies and Mechanical Engineering of Biological and Bio-inspired Systems.
Community Engagement
Beyond its academic and research achievements, the Institute actively engages with the broader community. Through public lectures, summer schools, competitions and participation in public events, the Institute promotes the importance of technical sciences and inspires the next generation of engineers.
Main Current Projects
- MEBioSys - Mechanical engineering of biological and bio-inspired systems
- National Competence Centre of Mechatronics and Smart Technologies for Mechanical Engineering
- Effect of local geometrical changes and polarization of labyrinth seal surfaces on the evaporation rate of liquid lubricants in space applications.
- COMMON-LINK - COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING FOR LONG-TERM INTER-SECTORAL ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE ON NON NEWTONIAN FLUIDS (NNF)
- BAANG - BUILDING ACTIONS IN SMART AVIATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GAINS
Main Results
- Optical simulator of a ball bearing
- SKELETON FOR MAGNETIC CORE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
- 3D printer for producing concrete and other building mixtures
- Effect of the Magnetorheological Damper Dynamic Behaviour on the Rail Vehicle Comfort: Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation
- A comparison of measured film thicknesses with quantitative predictions from an elastohydrodynamic, perturbation analysis at high slide-roll ratios
Research Activities
- Additive processing of metallic materials
- Advanced magnetic systems
- Applied tribology: from laboratory to industry
- Ergonomic optimisation of products and environment
- Friction, lubrication and wear of biomedical implants
- Intelligent suspension systems
- Magnetically active smart materials
- New materials in industrial design
- New technologies for fluid film lubrication systems
- Noise monitoring and mitigation
- Optical digitization
- Robotic additive fabrication
- Soft matter body interfaces (eye, fascia, skin)
- Space tribology and lubrication of vacuum systems
- Superlubricity of synovial joint and cartilage substitutes
- Surface modifications and advanced functional biomaterials
- Wheel-rail friction management techniques
- Wheel-rail interface as an open tribology system
News from Institute
StrojLAB opens doors to the maker community for students
Red filament instead of classic tape – creativity is part of strojLAB, and this was reflected in the grand opening of the brand-new laboratories.
Gold Medal of the Brno International Industrial Fair was awarded to FME’s technology
Another Gold Medal – for Lifetime Achievement – was awarded to Professor Přemysl Janíček from the Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics.
StrojLAB konstruování is opening new laboratories with free training and admission for students
At the same time, the Institute of Machine and Industrial Design is going to launch a new lecture series.
The DiSTT project prepares students and employees for the labour market of the 21st century
The project will offer six training and upskilling programmes to high school and university students, but also to employees or freelancers.
High school students let it rip at BUT with compressed air cars
Each of the eleven cars was built by a team of high school students who accepted the challenge of delving deeper into the secrets of technology.
The Faculty was visited by representatives of TU Riga
Sandris Ručevskis and Martins Vilnitis from the Technical University of Riga visited the Brno University of Technology these days.
More precise and economical bearings will be used by theatre turntables and high-end telescopes
Experts in tribology from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Brno University of Technology are working on modern hydrostatic bearings. They have figured out how to make bearings up to 20%…
Biotribologist Martin Vrbka received the Czech Science Foundation President's Award
Professor Vrbka received the prize for his research on viscosupplementation.
Cutting-edge research to connect the world of machines with nature
A new generation of implants or unique materials to be used in industry and transport. These are some of the many achievements pursued by scientists from five Czech institutions.
Brno Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will join forces with world´s top universities
Delft University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology and Imperial College London. The three prestigious foreign universities are partners in the project, which will be coordinated by the…
A special tribometer tailore-made by Brno scientists for a Japanese company
This was the third such contract for the Brno scientists, who have previously produced customised equipment for a large Japanese car company and a German university.
Smile Please! An FME student studies the effect of abrasive toothpastes on dental fillings
When Pavla Formánková smiles, it's a smile like from an advertisement. You certainly wouldn't tell about her how much she suffered with her teeth.
Increasing railway resilience explored by FME experts in Asia
How do you make rail infrastructure more resilient to weather changes, extreme natural events and even terrorist attacks? This was one of the main questions of the RISEN project, thanks to which…
Ocean cleaning or robot-rescuer. The exhibits connected with BUT will be presented at the Expo in Dubai
Exhibits from BUT will also be on display in the Czech pavilion at the Expo 2020 World Exhibition. Experts from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering have sent a robot to Dubai to demonstrate 3D…
The new BUT spin-off prints a concrete parkour playground
Today at the Brno University of Technology, the last elements of the parkour playground dedicated by Stavební spořitelna of Česká spořitelna (Buřinka) to the City District of Prague 11 were printed…
A damper faster than the blink of an eye will increase train speeds and save rails
A magnetorheological damper developed by Strojírna Oslavany with the researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Brno University of Technology, is ten times faster than other dampers.…
Patients with dry eye syndrome could be relieved. Biotribologists are testing a better raw material for artificial tears
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common diseases that bring patients to the ophthalmologist's office. In addition, the number of patients is still growing. For milder forms of the disease, doctors…
BUT has designed an affordable respirator
Researchers from the laboratory of bioplastics, Faculty of Chemistry BUT, have designed a simple respirator that could be produced as cheaply as plastic beverage cups. The method of vacuum…
BUT researchers can produce garden furniture on a 3D printer
Vase, stool, or monument commemorating the Brno astronomical clock. Even such products have already been made using robotic 3D printing, technology developed by scientists from the Faculty of…