The Laboratory for Electrical Machines and Drive Technology at OTH Regensburg, headed by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hopfensperger, has comprehensively modernised one of its most frequently used motor test benches in collaboration with Dynamics e.V., a student Formula Student team, and Schaeffler. The new test bench was recently officially unveiled at a standing reception.
Schaeffler, represented by Simon Baensch, Head of System Concepts, and Dr Gerd Rösel, Head of Innovation, supported the project with a newly developed mechanism. This was designed by students involved in Dynamics e.V. The students use the test bench regularly to test their latest drive systems. The new mechanics are specially designed for high-speed drive motors up to 18,000 revolutions per minute. At these speeds, precise alignment is crucial to avoid mechanical vibrations. The new design enables fast and accurate positioning of the components. Its solid construction now ensures low-vibration and quiet operation. Previously, the test bench caused considerable noise pollution at full speed, which significantly impaired the working environment in the laboratory.
"The modernised test bench is an excellent example of how students, research and industry are driving innovation together. The close cooperation with Dynamics e.V. and Schaeffler shows how practical and future-oriented our training at OTH Regensburg is," says Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hopfensperger.
Student commitment makes the difference
The initiative for the redesign came from Luca Schneider. He completed his master's degree in Applied Research in Engineering Sciences at OTH Regensburg. He worked on the test bench while writing his bachelor's thesis and recognised the weaknesses of the previous mechanics. As a long-standing member of Dynamics e.V., he put together a motivated team and convinced his current employer, Schaeffler, to take over the production of the components. Since graduating in March 2025, Schneider has been working as a systems engineer at Schaeffler.
For over ten years, the test bench has served as an interface between laboratory research and industrial projects. It is particularly suitable for testing so-called belt starter generators. These electric machines replace the alternator in hybrid vehicles and contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector. Numerous bachelor's and master's theses have been written in close cooperation with companies such as Vitesco, which is now part of Schaeffler. Many of these theses led to the graduates subsequently being offered permanent positions.
Another highlight of the event was the handover of a two-tonne slotted table by Björn Miener, Head of the Schaeffler Test Centre in Regensburg. The slotted table is a central element in the construction of another high-performance test bench in the laboratory.
The modernised test bench and the new slotted table create optimal conditions for future research and cooperation projects in the laboratory. This benefits students, science and industry alike.
