{"id":3963,"date":"2024-01-15T12:27:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T12:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruthmann.de\/students-at-the-westphalian-university-of-applied-sciences-develop-intuitive-steiger-operation\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T09:41:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T09:41:09","slug":"students-at-the-westphalian-university-of-applied-sciences-develop-intuitive-steiger-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruthmann.de\/en\/students-at-the-westphalian-university-of-applied-sciences-develop-intuitive-steiger-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Students at the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences develop intuitive STEIGER\u00ae operation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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RUTHMANN was the source of ideas for a project for Master’s students on the Media Informatics course at the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt and Recklinghausen. The students were asked to develop a concept and a demonstrator for a STEIGER\u00ae control system that is easier and more intuitive to use. No sooner said than done: Can Ata, Soufian Kaddouri, Hannah J\u00fcrgens, Maria Schreider and Max Schulte took up the challenge under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Jens Gerken (the name is coincidentally the same as the landlord Gerken GmbH). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on a handheld device, the so-called indicator, the work platform can be controlled intuitively. All the operator has to do is aim at the desired location and the STEIGER\u00ae takes them exactly where they want to go. In order to experience the new operation as realistically as possible, users were allowed to put on professional, high-resolution Varjo XR3 mixed reality glasses, which allow them to look at the real working platform and seamlessly integrate it into a virtual environment, such as a rural farmstead. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At the end of the project, the students invited a total of 13 test persons to put the simulation through its paces: both people who had never operated a truck-mounted platform before and some experienced users. This showed that the operating concept was understood very quickly. Some suggestions for improvement were also found. For example, the feedback on the control unit’s integrated screen could be improved. <\/p>\n\n

The students have now successfully completed their Master’s project and also won first place in the DIVR XR Science Award in the Best Tech category.<\/p>\n\n

The project team impressed us with their structured, professional approach to analysis, concept development and virtual realization and far exceeded our expectations. We will continue to pursue this visionary but realistic solution concept in future STEIGER\u00ae developments. <\/p>\n\n

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