Departments
Basic university research in the field of automotive and powertrain engineering
The Institute of Automotive Engineering Stuttgart (IFS) is part of the Faculty of Design, Production, and Automotive Engineering at the University of Stuttgart.
Together with the Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Powertrain Systems Stuttgart (FKFS), the IFS conducts interdisciplinary research on modern and future-oriented vehicle concepts – ranging from sustainable propulsion systems and connected vehicle technologies to aerodynamics and complete vehicle development.
Its three specialized chairs cover the full spectrum of automotive engineering.
A diverse and state-of-the-art research infrastructure is available for scientific work at the IFS. It enables comprehensive investigations from individual components to complete vehicles under realistic conditions. Notable facilities include the multi-configuration and powertrain test bench for evaluating complex propulsion concepts, the Stuttgart Driving Simulator for studying human driving behavior, the aeroacoustic vehicle wind tunnel for acoustic and aerodynamic research, and the thermal wind tunnel for analyzing thermal processes in the complete vehicle. This infrastructure is complemented by numerous other specialized test benches and simulation environments.
In addition, the IFS is home to the University of Stuttgart’s Formula Student Racing Team, which successfully develops both driver-operated and autonomous racing vehicles for the Formula Student competition.
Study program Automotive Engineering
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Automotive and Engine Engineering becomes Automotive Engineering
As of the winter semester of 2022/2023, the Automotive and Engine Engineering program was renamed into Automotive Engineering.In the study program Automotive Engineering, students are taught knowledge from the areas of vehicle propulsions, automotive engineering as well as automotive mechatronics. This includes the topics of alternative fuels, aerodynamics and acoustics. The electrification of the vehicle and the function of control units and software are also part of the courses. The automation and networking of vehicles has already been covered in the study program lectures for several years. Due to its increased importance, the University of Stuttgart has dedicated a new specialization subject in the master's degree program Automotive Engineering to this topic since the winter semester 2017 / 2018. Under the leadership of the IFS and the Institute for Automation Technology and Software Systems (IAS), a cross-faculty lecture program was developed for this purpose.
Directly to the study programs:
Cooperation IFS - FKFS
FKFS - Partner of the international automotive and supplier industry
With the cooperation of the FKFS it is possible for the IFS to combine basic university research with applied contract research.
Today, the FKFS is a partner of the international automotive and supplier industry and a renowned German development service provider. More than 140 dedicated and highly qualified employees drive research and development projects in the fields of powertrain, vehicle and automotive mechatronics. Thanks to highly specialized test benches and our own measurement, testing and simulation procedures developed at the FKFS, complex and demanding problems can be solved. In addition, we have many years of experience in the development and application of development tools. Because the FKFS is at the forefront of research work for the automotive industry, the absolute secrecy of projects is an unwritten law.
A cooperation agreement with the Institut of Automotive Engineering Stuttgart (IFS) defines the boundary conditions for cooperation with the University of Stuttgart.
The independent foundation
The Forschungsinstitut für Kraftfahrwesen und Fahrzeugmotoren Stuttgart FKFS is an independent foundation under public law. It does not receive any basic funding from the public sector.
The institute was founded in 1930 by Wunibald Kamm, a pioneer of modern automotive engineering and professor of automotive engineering. Model wind tunnels were available at an early stage in the meanwhile leading institute, and from 1940 even a 1:1 vehicle wind tunnel was available.
