Smart Sensing Live: Making the Invisible Visible with Ultrasound, Lasers, AI, and Microfluidics

How can we observe processes that are invisible to the naked eye? Experience firsthand how scientists at ISAT Coburg are using ultrasound, lasers, artificial intelligence, and microfluidics in industrial, environmental, and health research.

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, 5:00–9:00 p.m.

Where: Am Hofbräuhaus 1b, research building of the Institute for Sensor and Actuator Technology (ISAT)

What can you expect? Open labs and concise presentations—prototypes, posters, and demonstrators showcasing current research projects will be on display, and the researchers will be available for discussions and questions.

Program Item 1: “Diagnosis with a Single Drop”

Point-of-care tests allow us to quickly and easily measure diagnostic parameters related to diseases and bodily functions, both at the doctor’s office and at home. We’ll explore how these tests work and what the color of gold—which isn’t always golden yellow—has to do with it.

Hands-on activities:
1. What is microfluidics, and why is it so important in diagnostics? A look “under the hood” of COVID-19 and pregnancy tests.
2. Gold and silver – more colorful than expected. How precious metals are used in disease detection.

Program Item 2: “What’s in my drink? Characterizing liquids with ultrasound and spectrometers”

What do lemonade, juice, and water have in common? They consist almost entirely of liquid—but their contents are completely different. We’ll show how modern sensors make invisible differences visible: An ultrasound sensor “hears” how fast sound travels through a liquid and uses that to determine how much sugar is dissolved in it.
A spectrometer “sees” the color very precisely and reveals which substances are present.

Hands-on activity: We’ll transform water step by step into “soda” and observe how the measured values change. How much sugar is needed before the difference can be measured using ultrasound? Follow how the speed of sound changes as sugar is added.

Program Item 3: “Where Do Research Setups Come From? From Idea to Experiment – How Our Workshop Lays the Groundwork for Researchers

Before research can take place in our labs, the right components must first be available. Many experimental setups cannot be purchased anywhere—they are developed and manufactured in our workshop specifically for research purposes. Here, for example, a microfluidic chip is being created: a component with extremely fine channels through which liquids will later flow during the experiment. It is only through these custom-made components that new measurement methods and investigations become possible.

Hands-on activity: Experience how an idea becomes a real research component: Precision manufacturing of a microfluidic chip on a CNC machine In the neighboring lab, you’ll then see this very chip in action during an experiment. This makes it clear: research doesn’t just happen at the measuring instrument—it arises from the interplay of science, technology, and the workshop.

Program Item 4: “Live Medical Ultrasound – Checking Implants, Understanding Bone Healing”

In the UltraHip project, we are developing an ultrasound method for the early detection of loosening in hip prostheses—without X-rays and with immediate assessment of the gap thickness between the bone and the implant. In the BoneWatch project, we use high-precision laser scanning technology to investigate how ultrasound waves propagate through bone in order to continuously monitor fracture healing. This demonstrates the medical application of ultrasound—from physical fundamentals to clinical applications.

Hands-on activities:
(1) Ultrasonic thickness measurement: Measure the thickness of aluminum steps using ultrasonic transit time → UltraHip uses this effect to determine the gap thickness between bone and hip prosthesis.
(2) Ultrasound concentration measurement: Observe how the speed of sound in water changes when ethanol is added → BoneWatch analyzes such material changes to draw conclusions about the healing status of bones.

Activity 5: “Radio Waves All Around Us: Making Radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Visible?”

Invisible radio signals are buzzing all around us: radio stations, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth from cell phones. But how does a radio find “its” station? And where are all the other signals? At this station, we’ll make electromagnetic waves visible and audible. On a measuring device, you’ll see the various radio channels as peaks in the spectrum—and can discover firsthand just how densely our surroundings are filled with signals.

Hands-on activity: Using a dial on a measuring device, you can independently search for and listen to any radio channel yourself.

Program Item 6: “How Damp Is My House Wall?: Non-Invasive Building Inspection Using Radar”

Moisture in walls can damage houses—often long before any visible signs appear. But how can you determine where a wall is damp without breaking it open or taking core samples? In our lab, we’ll demonstrate how radar beams “see” inside the masonry. Water in the material alters the radar signals, as electromagnetic waves react to water molecules present in the material—thus making moisture measurable. Using computer-aided optimization methods, a moisture map of the wall is created from many individual measurement points, similar to a medical image. This is how non-contact building inspection works—a technique that helps detect damage early and plan renovations effectively.

Hands-on activity: Visitors can independently examine prepared sandstone blocks using a radar device. In doing so, they observe in real time how the measured signals change—for example, due to varying moisture levels—and see the results visualized directly in a cross-sectional view of the stone.

Program Item 7: “How Do Sensors and Artificial Intelligence Work Together?”

When you write a number on a tablet, something amazing happens behind the scenes: Sensors track every movement of your stylus—and an artificial intelligence system tries to recognize which number you intended to write. But how does a computer “know” that? At this station, we’ll show you step by step how measurement data is turned into information—and how an AI model learns patterns from it.

Hands-on activity: Can an AI model recognize my numbers? You’ll see live how sensor data is used to make a prediction—exactly the same processes are used in handwriting recognition, smartphones, and automatic sorting systems.