VDMA

Humans

The continuous pursuit for a better life characterizes mankind.
Machines

When humans reach their limits, machines help to overcome them.
Progress

Mechanical engineering is the driver of global progress and is turning today’s ideas into tomorrow’s.

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HUMANS MACHINES PROGRESS

Major tasks lie ahead of mankind to create a better future. When humans and machine interact, progress emerges. We’ve gathered the most exciting stories to show you what life will look like tomorrow and in the future.

About this project
Chronicle

Materials

Lightweight and solar powered around the world

As early as 1891, aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal covered 25 meters in a controlled glide flight. In 1894 his Normalsegelapparat (normal glider), weighing only 20 kilograms, went into mass production. A good 120 years later, the first solar aircraft circumnavigated the earth without any fuel – thanks to the extremely lightweight construction.

Drinking water

So, is it running well?

Water. A small hand movement – and it's there: for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth or washing. We are used to it flowing out of the pipe in drinking water quality wherever we are. This requires sophisticated technology and the highest hygiene standards.

Water

Without water, everything is nothing

We only need water for drinking, cooking and washing, right? Not even close! Water is in everything around us – from paper to clothes, computers and cars. Do you know how much water runs through your hands every day without you knowing it?

Urbanization

Big cities, major tasks

By 2030, nine billion people are expected to live on planet Earth – about 70 percent of them in urban areas. This is why cities are increasingly determining the development of our planet. Urbanization is thus one of the biggest challenges for now – and in the future.

Air

Air - breath of life, raw material, tool

Without air, our planet would not be blue. Life on earth would not be possible either. Technology not only ensures that we have pure air at work and at home, but also uses air as a versatile tool – with examples from the hair dryer to innovative tumor treatment.

Work 4.0

Work 4.0 – Humans at its heart

It is the year 2025. The mechanical engineering industry has cemented and expanded its leading position on the world market. This success is entirely based on one aspect: the people that work there.

Security

Mechanical engineering makes it safe to travel

Digital tickets, iris checks, body scanners – modern day traveling is getting faster and more comfortable. But what does it really take for us to be able to feel safe when traveling and to know that our homes are protected?

Mobility

Around the world. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

In 1873, Jules Verne sent his hero Phileas Fogg around the world in 80 days and took the reader with him on an unforgettable adventure. Since then, the art of traveling has changed completely. How fast could Phileas Fogg make the journey today? We follow in his tracks and find out how small our world has become in 2017.

Machine Vision

Machines with eyes wide open

Seeing machines are revolutionizing our lives because they can take on more and more tasks. The technology that teaches machines to see is called machine vision or image processing. For many years, the technology has been developing dynamically and opening up completely new perspectives.

Health

Medical technology ensures good health and quality of life

Medical technology serves us through all stages of life – from birth to old age. Digitalization will drive this trend even further. On the one hand, more and more data is readily available to the doctor. On the other hand, the patients themselves gather an increasing amount of information on their health.

Raw Materials

Raw materials - too valuable to waste

The world’s population is growing exponentially. But most available raw materials are limited. Using these efficiently is a matter of survival for nearly nine billion people. Intelligent machine technology helps to make optimum use of the right raw materials, to save material and to recycle used material.

Digitalization

The future is "on"

Machines that can think for themselves, complex 3D printer components, smart glasses that are able to communicate with machines, and logistics that can manage their own organization. These are not fantasies of science fiction, but already the reality in Germany’s factories.

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Humans

Machines

Progress