From Ion Engines to E-Textiles: FEL Students Present Future Technologies

A motor for space missions, smart textiles, or advances in photovoltaic diagnostics, FEL students presented research projects in a student competition. The jury highlighted their ability to translate academic theory into practical applications.

Electrical engineering today encompasses far more than just cables and circuit breakers; students demonstrated that clearly at this year's Student Scientific and Professional Activities (SVOČ) competition. Students from bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs impressed not only with the scope of their work but also, according to the organizing team, with a level that surprised even industry professionals. "The quality of the projects genuinely left us astonished this year. It was remarkable to observe how pure theory, in the hands of students, transforms into tangible reality," said one of the organizers, Ondřej Michal.

Particular attention was drawn to Michal Mráz, who won in the category Diagnostics, Materials and Technologies for Electrical Engineering with his design and construction of an ion engine - a propulsion system primarily used in space technologies. According to the jury, his work demonstrated an exceptional ability to address complex challenges in modern physics.

Equally significant were sustainability-focused projects. Their authors addressed, for example, the diagnostics of photovoltaic panels, crucial for detecting hidden faults and minimizing performance losses, or the development of measurement cards for flow batteries, which may play a key role in future energy storage solutions. Carmen Kovarski presented a device for studying the properties of electronic textiles. Such smart textiles could, in the future, monitor patients' health conditions or enhance athletes' comfort and performance.

Thanks to the competition's strong links with industrial partners, the most successful participants received not only material prizes and financial awards, but also valuable professional contacts to support their future careers. "For many of them, success in the SVOČ competition represents the first step toward a promising career in leading technology companies or toward their own scientific research," added Ondřej Michal.

The complete results and the names of all awarded participants are available on the SVOČ FEL website.