Everything in its place

Whether tools in the hardware store or cows in the barn: With the start-up Pelora, Johanna Geiß is developing a system that precisely locates objects and devices. It is research that makes everyday life easier.

Dr. Johanna Geiß leans back in her chair in a relaxed manner. She is currently on a break between many meetings. She proudly talks about an award ceremony at the Munich Residenz. In April, she received the Hightech Award Bavaria in the “Graduate Award” category for her doctoral thesis. “It was magnificent, and the best part was being able to bring my research from the university into a different environment. I also received feedback that what I’m doing is actually something meaningful.” In her doctoral thesis, Geiß investigated why sensors in cars sometimes misidentify obstacles and how workshops can fix these errors. Previously, also at FAU, she studied medical engineering for her Bachelor’s degree and later completed a Master’s degree in electrical engineering. At the time, she didn’t want to pursue a doctoral degree. The fact that she ultimately decided to do so is due to her enthusiasm for her field of research, with which she is making a major contribution to greater road safety.

Position data from Bluetooth signals

But research alone is not enough for her. She founded Pelora with her colleagues after her doctoral thesis – a start-up based at the Chair of Microwaves and Photonics. The name was not chosen by chance: “A pelorus is a maritime device that is used in navigation. Since we specialize in helping people find objects inside buildings, it fits perfectly.” Pelora is developing an infrastructure that can convert Bluetooth signals from standard devices into precise position data. Warehouses, supermarkets, barns – the possible applications are diverse. “We were told about cases where it took three hours to locate a sick cow to treat it. With the Pelora tracking modules, it could have been found in minutes.” The device could also potentially be used to track customer behavior anonymously in supermarkets. But the road to get there is intense. Geiß currently spends a lot of time at her desk as well as in the lab and holding meetings with potential clients. At the same time, she is acquiring partners for pilot projects: “We place our receiver modules on ceilings and under roofs in different environments to collect important data during tests.” Dr. Erik Sippel and Dr. Patrick Gröschel also belong to the Pelora team. The start-up emerged from Sippel’s doctoral thesis. When she’s not working with radar sensors and positioning systems, Johanna Geiß often has a camera in her hands. “During my Master’s degree, I also photographed weddings, as a creative outlet.” And she remembers many hours spent at “Strohalm,” the former music bar at Martin-Luther-Platz in Erlangen. These days, she often goes straight home from the office. But she doesn’t really unwind there, either. “My mind is always working on something.” And yet, the desire to create something together as a team outweighs everything else. “I think we have to keep reminding ourselves of what we’ve already accomplished. We’ve turned a research project into something that people out there can really use.”

Sebastian Schroth

This article is part of the FAU Magazine

The third issue of the FAU Magazine #People is once again all about the people who make our FAU one of the best universities in the world. The examples in this issue show how lively and diverse our research is, the commitment of our students, and the work in the scientific support areas.

Highlight is certainly the new research cluster “Transforming Human Rights.” Or you can follow our scientists into laboratories and workshops, where they make potatoes climate-resistant, teach robots social behavior, or reconstruct ancient ships and cannons. At FAU, students are developing vertical take-off aircraft or impressing with outstanding performances at the Paralympics. And let’s not forget the people who work at our university or remain closely connected as FAU alumni. Visit the Children’s University with them or watch a TV series with an FAU alumna and Grimme Award winner.