We develop sensor material to effectively transform mechanical force or torque into an electrical resistance. A new type of thin films containing nickel and carbon has a significantly higher output and is thus very advantageous. But so far, the electrical resistance lacks stability. We therefore investigate how to stabilize the material and show that the partial replacement of nickel by the element chromium solves the problem. The optimized sensor films are now suitable for widespread use.

We developed a smart in-cylinder pressure sensor for closed-loop combustion control. The sensor concept is based on a robust and reliable steel membrane equipped with highly strain-sensitive and temperature-stable thin films. The sensor system is complemented by a smart electronics allowing real-time data processing for calculation of different combustion parameters. The data are utilized to control the igniting timing of a spark plug for efficient operation of a combustion engine.