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Exceed! '18

Exceed! '18 Exceed! presents the most outstanding, exhilarating design projects of students, PhD students, and researchers from the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. The selected projects are all different, but have at least one thing in common: they make you think. The intention of the exhibition is to reflect on and discuss the role of the various (often overlapping) design fields, design research and technology, and their mutual interaction. Projects Track Me & Chase Me Crecol: A Table Supporting Teamwork Embassy of Youth Joy Bree: Your Home Breathes with You A Design Game for Families Street Debater Shining Light on Mussel Shells Lavoro: Discussion Tool Rational Override; Influencing behaviour beyond nudging Flocc: Connecting people to their smart office Computer Aided Consumer Design JOY Detecting Malnutrition in East-Africa

ISSHO

This project started as a collaboration between Pauline van Dongen and Italdenim. Italdenim is an innovative, Italian denim manufacture making every meter denim without environmental impact. This collaboration provided the opportunity to weave conductive yarns into denim fabric to obtain ‘intelligent denim’. Much research has been conducted to the meaning of denim. Denim is transcending all layers in society, worn by young and old, poor and rich is therefore the ultimate fabric to showcase the potential of wearable technology. Denim is characterised by its graceful aging, it fades and becomes softer, like a friendship it becomes more personal and intimate throughout the years. This friendship metaphor has been used as design input for Issho. Not only in shape of the jacket, the cocoon-like shape, high collar enable to conceal and a zipper on the back for extra space, but also as a form of interaction. Like a friendship there is a mutual relation between the wearer and the jacket. Graduation Project Isabel Berentzen Pauline van Dongen (Company) Realised in collaboration with: ItalDenim & Stimuleringsfonds (Support) Kaspar Jansen (Chair) Paul Hekkert (Mentor) ISSHO contains three touch sensors and four vibration motors on the upper back, controlled by a microcontroller with rechargeable battery. The denim fabric obtains its touch capacity by conductive yarns woven into the denim fabric. The yarns are selected on functionality; price, conductivity and conductivity maintenance after several washing cycles, and aesthetics. The touch capacitive denim enables the jacket to identify touches but also to indicate whether its worn or not. The jacket relies completely on itself, able to turn itself autonomously on and off when worn or not. Issho functions without a smartphone which was done deliberately to move away from utilising gadgets as interface. The jacket is washable due to a detachable microcontroller and battery. The vibration motors are providing haptic feedback and are programmed in such a way that they simulate a gentle stroke on the upper back.” ISSHO is a denim jacket that likes to share its enthusiasm for the world with its wearer. Through mutual interaction, Issho makes its wearer more aware of the moments they experience together. Issho is a revolution in the world of smart wearables that is dominated by functionalism. Instead, Issho is an example of positive design, that fosters mindfulness and a peaceful mind. Issho is the perfect balance of technology, fashion and experience design. It integrates touch sensitive technology and vibration motors for feedback. Issho was launched by Pauline van Dongen at the SxSW festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2017. ISSHO is a revolutionary denim jacket, the result of a unique collaboration between fashion designer Pauline van Dongen, ItalDenim and our DE and ID departments. This concept wearable shows us how technology can shape our experience, make our lives more mindful, and teaches future designers how we can apply technology for ‘a better world’. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Effortless interactions for emergency care

The core challenge of this DfI (/Medisign) master graduation thesis project was to improve the workflow of ambulance staff. The project was conducted for and within Philips Design in Eindhoven, where I currently work as a Service Designer. The design process was characterized by a strong focus on analysis, and in particular on user research, which included intense inquiry activities such as direct observation of ambulance shifts. The project resulted in the conceptualization of the LiveSync, a product aimed at facilitating the daily workflow of ambulance staff by enabling hands-free interactions. The final prototype was tested (and very much liked!) by real ambulance paramedics and drivers. After the graduation presentation, interest came from quite a few ambulance centers to develop the project further. The projects was graded a 9.5 and awarded a cum laude. Currently, a proposal to transform the LiveSync into a real product is being taken into consideration at Philips. Graduation Project Valeria Pannunzio Natalia Herrera (Chair) Philips Design (Company) This research and development project was meant to explore these technological and societal drivers and formulate a 2025 future vision where borders between digital and physical become virtually invisible. The report proposes how a simple product, the Crescent Alpha, could mark the first step towards a healthier future. One where we have a healthier relationship with our digital devices and solve the need for connection in our fast paced and asynchronous world. The vision behind Crescent is to develop an omnipresent personal interface that enables us to interact with our digital space in a natural way. This vision is then embodied through rapid prototyping and several interactions with users. This iterative process made it possible to go from a solution on paper to a physical well founded basic concept. Currently, Crescent Alpha (the company) is focusing on the medical market, developing cameras for teaching surgeons to capture and share their surgeries with students.” Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Crescent Alpha

The rapid rise of our smart devices has enabled modern society to reach amazing levels of productivity in our lives. While the Graphical User Interface utilised by these devices has played a substantial role, it has nevertheless caused the economy to be dependant on our attention, given rise to the multitasking paradox and has shown substantial decrease in our ability to empathize and converse. Fortunately, there are multiple drivers indicating that it is now time to integrate our physical and digital lives in a more mutually beneficial way. The Crescent Alpha, is introducing an alternative, screenless, interface for a camera. With this camera you can capture your moment without putting a screen in between you and the moment. While this interface brings a great amount of technical possibilities for the individual, it also poses a challenge for society. Will we choose user friendliness over our privacy like we’re already doing with Social Media? Graduation Project Samy Ralph Andary Maaike Kleinsmann (Chair) Ianus Keller (Mentor) Nick Sturkenbaum (Assistant-Chair) Wit Dot Media Inc. (Company) Tom Kluyver (Photographer) This research and development project was meant to explore these technological and societal drivers and formulate a 2025 future vision where borders between digital and physical become virtually invisible. The report proposes how a simple product, the Crescent Alpha, could mark the first step towards a healthier future. One where we have a healthier relationship with our digital devices and solve the need for connection in our fast paced and asynchronous world. The vision behind Crescent is to develop an omnipresent personal interface that enables us to interact with our digital space in a natural way. This vision is then embodied through rapid prototyping and several interactions with users. This iterative process made it possible to go from a solution on paper to a physical well founded basic concept. Currently, Crescent Alpha (the company) is focusing on the medical market, developing cameras for teaching surgeons to capture and share their surgeries with students.” Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Nike Fitroom

Recent researches show that digital transformation is top priority in the retail sector. But retailers face difficulties to make successful use of digital technologies in the store. Digital innovations instore are frequently seen as unnecessary, unintuitive and uncomfortable by the consumers. Furthermore, the personalization strategies initiated with digital technologies are not using personal data in a humanized way. The aim of project was to develop a design framework which can be used as guidance for designing a new brand touch point instore using personal data. The framework is used for designing a new in-store experience for Nike, namely the Nike Fitroom. Graduation Project Myrthe Montijn Jeroen van Erp (Mentor) Kranlin Heijnen (Company Mentor - Deloitte) The Nike Fitroom is a digital immersive fitting room to encourage the non-customers to try Nike products too. The Fitting room delivers an engaging customer experience by combining a deep understanding of user needs with different (digital) technologies. The Fitroom experience is customized and optimized by using personal attitudinal data. Personal consumer goals are uncovered with a light-hearted and encouraging dialogue on the smart mirror. The visitor can try the product in a truly personalized Fitroom, stimulating the user to achieve their personal goals by triggering personal intrinsic motivations. The Fitroom can be the first step into a complete personalized Nike journey, making use of the same attitudinal data. As a result Nike will strengthen its brand values and move towards a coherent omni-channel brand experience. This project is a great example of combining the three IDE pillars (business, human and technology) in a strategic way. It delivered a very creative concept that is the outcome of both a well-done design process and a careful business reflection. Furthermore, the project has used and combined different theoretical perspectives, and extended one of the main theoretical frameworks developed by our faculty (design for emotion). The student is now working on thinking about a working prototype to be used for further test. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

AscoltaMe

Exploring the innovative concept of Tactful Design for sensitive settings The project ‘Designing the New Normal’ is part of the overarching project named Meedoen= Groeien!; result of the collaboration between the Revalidatiefonds, the Prinses Máxima Centrum and TU Delft. The research project explores how interactive objects can be designed in order to become a tactful support for children with cancer and their families during the treatment phase. Dealing with cancer, can generate emotional burden and tension in the relationships inside the family. AscoltaMe, (‘Listen to Me’ in Italian), a design developed within this project, is meant to stimulate communication among family members and talk about emotions and difficult things. It works like the ‘broken phone game’ that children can use to leave quick messages to the parents and trigger conversations in a new and playful way. PhD Exploration Patrizia D'Olivo Marco Rozendaal (Daily Supervisor) Elisa Giaccardi (Promotor) Martha Grootenhuis (Promotor) Jaap Huisman (External Advisor) This project represents an example of how design and research used in sensitive settings can be combined to generate potential solutions that go beyond traditional intervention in the healthcare sector and that promote innovative research approaches. Designing the New Normal is an -in progress– project that investigates the role of objects and technologies in the everyday context of families struggling with disruptive life events and it tries to create knowledge towards the definition of a broader concept of ‘Tactful Design’. A new concept of design that brings together methodologies, approaches and hands-on work to reflect on how is possible to design with empathy and tactfulness when we are dealing with sensitive contexts and complex systems of users. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Phiton

Discus throwing outdoors provides the coach and athlete with direct feedback on the performance in the form of a final distance. Even by eye this can intuitively be judged. When switching to indoor training come winter, this intuitive measure is taken away as the athletes throw into a net suspended 5–8 meters in front of them. The coach believes this lack of feedback is the reason for the drop in performance over the winter. This project’s aim was to develop a training solution that can measure the relevant variables of a discus throw and compute the final distance using a theoretical model. A functional prototype was built that can track the position of the discus in 3D with an accuracy of 2,5 mm. Concurrently, an Android app was developed to receive and process the data coming from the discus and calculate a predicted final distance of an indoor throw. Graduation Project Brendan Spijkerman Arjen Jansen, Wolf Song, G. Damkat (Project Guidance) Atletiekunie, NOC*NSF (Financial Support) This is an example of a project that clearly stems from a user need (the desire for an indoor throwing performance figure) and successfully translates that, through many iterations and technologies, into a working prototype, theoretical model and app, showcasing how real-world products can be augmented by combining them with the digital realm. It also presents a mix of embodiment design, research, physics models, digital design and prototyping. This means it is a prime example of how research and technology in both the physical and digital domain can come together to create products that are more than the sum of their parts. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Materials that move

A novel material is developed consisting of 3D-printed flexible material combined with Fields metal (a metal with extreme low melting point). By adding memory metal wires the material is able to morph in a controlled manner, thus making a new type of products possible which can morph into different geometrical shapes. In the project extensive experiments were specified and conducted, thus iterating to an applicable technology. The technology was then used in creativity sessions to generate new directions for product development. A working demonstrator was built which shows ground breaking potential. Graduation Project Liselotte Stolk Kaspar Jansen (Chair) Bram de Smit (Mentor) In her project Liselotte perfectly combined scientific methods and academic approach with the skills of a an IO product designer. In her report and presentation she has shown extraordinary skills in explaining and demonstrating all working principles and clarifying the great potential as well as the remaining problems to be solved. Liselotte’s project is a perfect example of what IDE engineers can do and add to the world. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

A new sun visor for heavy vehicles

The majority of trucks is equipped with an external sun visor. The design of this product has not changed significantly since its first introduction around 1950. Despite the availability of alternative products such as tinted windows, users often make the decision to purchase this optional part. The truck industry is focusing increasingly on aspects such as comfort, safety and efficiency and the question arises if, and how improvements can be made to the sun visor. Graduation Project Vincent aus dem Kamen Stefan van der Geer (Mentor) Jos Oberdorf (Mentor) The result of this project is a new sun visor combination for a DAF CF truck. A broad analysis that was performed was based on four pillars: Influence on Efficiency, Aesthetics, Materialization and Visibility & Sun Protection. This analysis resulted in various criteria, opportunities and insight in the deficiencies of the current DAF CF sun visor. An opportunity was found to satisfy the criteria of the four pillars with a combination of an external and interior part. Sun protection & Visibility is improved by an interior sun protection while the exterior sun visor improves Efficiency, Materialization and Aesthetics. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

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What trees teach us about sustainable production of materials

Trees are excellent teachers when it comes to making materials for load-bearing structures with as little resources and energy as possible. One of their secrets? When a tree grows, the direction of the wood grain adapts itself to fit the load that part of the tree is going to bear.

Exhale Sluitingsweek: A week of free events to say goodbye to Exhale and cosy up for Winter

De allerlaatste Exhale Week vindt plaats van 25 november tot 1 december en staat volledig in het teken van afscheid nemen van Exhale en het omarmen van de winter.

TIL student Laura Drechsel wins Q-Park thesis award

TIL student Laura Drechsel wins the 2024 Q-Park Student Award with her thesis called: Stories of Aging and Access - Exploring capabilities and challenges of accessibility for urban elderly through microstories. Her award-winning thesis can be found here .

Moving the Closet

You simply cannot miss it, it is big and magenta: the Pink Closet . On 12 November 2024 the Pink Closet will head to the Main Hall of the TU Delft Library for the first time! The Pink Closet will take its place at the Nook, where it will feature as part of the Studium Generale programme on loneliness. More information on events that coincide with and incorporate the Pink Closet at TU Delft Library will soon be available on the website of Studium Generale .

Green ammonia remains a challenge, but researchers make significant progress

The production of ammonia, essential for fertiliser production, is responsible for almost 1.5% of global carbon emissions. This needs to be greener, which is why researchers have been looking for sustainable alternatives for years.

"Measuring brain activity through the skull with ultrasound opens new doors"

PhD Candidate Rick Waasdorp is looking for ways to correct the distortion caused by the skull when using Ultrasound technology. ‘’My goal is to develop an adaptive method for skull corrections that automatically measures the skull of new patients.’’

NWO funding for flexible power demand in electrically driven industry

NWO is funding two projects to explore ways to make the power demand of industry more flexible, allowing it to better align with future energy supplies. One of these projects, “DEFLAME,” is led by Machteld van den Broek from TU Delft.

Students Amos Yusuf, Mick Dam & Bas Brouwer winners of Mekel Prize 2024

Master students Amos Yusuf, from the ME faculty (Mick Dam, from the EEMCS faculty and graduate Bas Brouwer have won the Mekel Prize 2024 for the best extra scientific activity at TU Delft: the development of an initiative that brings master students into the classroom teaching sciences to the younger generations. The prize was ceremonially awarded by prof Tim van den Hagen on 13 November after the Van Hasselt Lecture at the Prinsenhof, Delft. They received a statue of Professor Jan Mekel and 1.500,- to spend on their project. Insights into climate change are being openly doubted. Funding for important educational efforts and research are being withdrawn. Short clips – so called “reels” – on Youtube and TikTok threaten to simplify complex political and social problems. AI fakes befuddle what is true and what is not. The voices of science that contribute to those discussion with modesty, careful argument and scepticism, are drowned in noise. This poses a threat for universities like TU Delft, who strive to increase student numbers, who benefit from diverse student populations and aim to pass on their knowledge and scientific virtues to the next generation. It is, therefore, alarming that student enrolments to Bachelor and Master Programs at TU Delft have declined in the past year. Students in front of the class The project is aimed to make the sciences more appealing to the next generation. They have identified the problem that students tend miss out on the opportunity of entering a higher education trajectory in the Beta sciences – because they have a wrong picture of such education. In their mind, they depict it as boring and dry. In his pilot lecture at the Stanislas VMBO in Delft, Amos Yusuf has successfully challenged this image. He shared his enthusiasm for the field of robotics and presented himself as a positive role model to the pupils. And in return the excitement of the high school students is palpable in the videos and pictures from the day. The spark of science fills their eyes. Bas Brouwer Mick Dam are the founders of NUVO – the platform that facilitates the engagement of Master Students in high school education in Delft Their efforts offer TU Delft Master Students a valuable learning moment: By sharing insights from their fields with pupils at high school in an educational setting, our students can find identify their own misunderstandings of their subject, learn to speak in front of non-scientific audiences and peak into education as a work field they themselves might not have considered. An extraordinary commitment According to the Mekel jury, the project scored well on all the criteria (risk mitigation, inclusiveness, transparency and societal relevance). However, it was the extraordinary commitment of Amos who was fully immersed during his Master Project and the efforts of Brouwer and Dam that brought together teaching and research which is integral to academic culture that made the project stand out. About the Mekel Prize The Mekel Prize will be awarded to the most socially responsible research project or extra-scientific activity (e.g. founding of an NGO or organization, an initiative or realization of an event or other impactful project) by an employee or group of employees of TU Delft – projects that showcase in an outstanding fashion that they have been committed from the beginning to relevant moral and societal values and have been aware of and tried to mitigate as much as possible in innovative ways the risks involved in their research. The award recognizes such efforts and wants to encourage the responsible development of science and technology at TU Delft in the future. For furthermore information About the project: https://www.de-nuvo.nl/video-robotica-pilot/ About the Mekel Prize: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/tpm/our-faculty/departments/values-technology-and-innovation/sections/ethics-philosophy-of-technology/mekel-prize

The ENHANCE Diversity Seed Fund

Are you a student at TU Delft or another ENHANCE university with a passion for promoting diversity and inclusion? The ENHANCE Diversity Seed Fund is your chance to turn that passion into action. ENHANCE provides funding to support innovative, student-led projects that address key challenges related to inclusion and diversity within our academic communities. Key Details: Funding Available: Up to 1500 Euros per project in the 1st round! Eligibility: Students from ENHANCE member universities. Staff can also join student-led initiatives. Application Deadline: 8 January 2025. More information: Join the online Information Event on the 26 November 2024 16:00-17:00 CET on Zoom . More information: enhanceuniversity.eu/diversity/diversityseedfund/

New catheter technology promises safer and more efficient treatment of blood vessels

Each year, more than 200 million catheters are used worldwide to treat vascular diseases, including heart disease and artery stenosis. When navigating into blood vessels, friction between the catheter and the vessel wall can cause major complications. With a new innovative catheter technology, Mostafa Atalla and colleagues can change the friction from having grip to completely slippery with the flick of a switch. Their design improves the safety and efficiency of endovascular procedures. The findings have been published in IEEE. Catheter with variable friction The prototype of the new catheter features advanced friction control modules to precisely control the friction between the catheter and the vessel wall. The friction is modulated via ultrasonic vibrations, which overpressure the thin fluid layer. This innovative variable friction technology makes it possible to switch between low friction for smooth navigation through the vessel and high friction for optimal stability during the procedure. In a proof-of-concept, Atalla and his team show that the prototype significantly reduces friction, averaging 60% on rigid surfaces and 11% on soft surfaces. Experiments on animal aortic tissue confirm the promising results of this technology and its potential for medical applications. Fully assembled catheters The researchers tested the prototype during friction experiments on different tissue types. They are also investigating how the technology can be applied to other procedures, such as bowel interventions. More information Publicatie DOI : 10.1109/TMRB.2024.3464672 Toward Variable-Friction Catheters Using Ultrasonic Lubrication | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore Mostafa Atalla: m.a.a.atalla@tudelft.nl Aimee Sakes: a.sakes@tudelft.nl Michaël Wiertlewski: m.wiertlewski@tudelft.nl Would you like to know more and/or attend a demonstration of the prototype please contact me: Fien Bosman, press officer Health TU Delft: f.j.bosman@tudelft.nl/ 0624953733

Design and imagination as essential tools during the climate crisis

In Nature Partner Journals, ten researchers advocate the use of imagination in tackling the climate crisis. They focus specifically on urbanising river deltas, which are of great social and economic importance and highly vulnerable to climate change. "We scientists should not merely outline doomsday scenarios," says Professor Chris Zevenbergen. "Create a vision for people to believe in and work towards.”

Inaugural address: machine optimisation key to more efficient logistics system

The processing and transport of materials can be made much more efficient, says TU Delft professor Dingena Schott in her inaugural address, ‘Advancing Transport and Processing: from Model to Impact’. She will deliver her address on 15 November. Her research focuses on the interaction between machines and materials, with a special emphasis on granular materials.

FAST University Fund invites all TU Delft students

FAST University Fund invites all TU Delft students to apply for the Ambitious Project Grant or the Event Grant of up to €15.000!

Education demonstration in Utrecht cancelled

Safety cannot be guaranteed In our post of 22 October , we announced that students and staff of TU Delft will have the opportunity to take part in protests against the cabinet's plans to cut higher education. Today it has been announced that the demonstration against the cuts to higher education and science on 14 November in Utrecht has been cancelled because the safety of the demonstrators cannot be guaranteed. Read the reaction of Universiteiten van Nederland to the cancellation of the education demonstration in Utrecht (Dutch only).

Young Investigator Award for Gabrielle Laloy-Borgna

Gabrielle has won the technical Young Investigator Award at Euroson 2024 (congress of the European Federation of Ultrasound Societies in Medicine and Biology) with her presentation entitled: “Ultrasound imaging in bones: tissue characterization, anatomical images
and blood flow measurements”.

Ilaria Orsi joined ImPhys as PhD student

Ilaria started her PhD program in the Renaud group about ultrasound imaging inside bones, contributing to the advancement of such non-invasive technique to characterize tissue composition and to quantify blood flow.

First prize for ZhenZhen Wu at the 2024 NWO Biophysics poster awards

ZhenZhen Wu's poster, “Absolute Voltage Imaging in Developing Zebrafish,” won first prize in the 2024 NWO Biophysics poster awards, competing against over 150 posters. The BioPM Poster Prizes are awarded to the best posters presented at the NWO Biophysics Conference, and the winners are selected by a jury. ZhenZhen Wu z.wu-3@tudelft.nl

Enrolment for new courses open on 13 November

The new courses will start from Monday 18 November. Enrolment for these starts from Wednesday 13 November at 08.00! In the second quarter, a new series of courses awaits you. You can find out more on the website. Maybe you already know that you want to attend your favourite course again or maybe you want to discover and try something new; it's all possible. The enrolment moment for the course depends on the day the course takes place. At 08:00 enrolments for Monday's courses open, at 10:00 for Tuesday's courses, at 12:00 for Wednesday's courses, at 14:00 for Thursday's courses and at 16:00 for courses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Enrolments go fast Enrolment for our courses always runs fast, so don't wait too long or be surprised by a course where spots are still available! Enrolment closes Enrolment closes on Friday 22 November at 16.00.

Contributions of SPTL at the CVS Congress (21-22 November, Utrecht)

On November 21 and 22, the 51st edition of the CVS congress is held in the Railway museum in Utrecht. Members of the Smart Public Transport Lab contribute to the following sessions: Knus in de bus op dinsdag; zijn alle werkdagen nog wel hetzelfde? Thursday, November 21, 16:00-17:30 Julia Bickel, Maxim Meijers and Niels van Oort [abstract] Stedelijkheidsgraden in transportmodellen: Een analyse over de impact van de ruimtelijke omgeving op reisgedrag Thursday, November 21, 16:00-17:30 Janine Grauss, Justin Hogenberg and Niels van Oort [abstract] Van en naar het treinstation: Voorkeuren van reizigers voor gedeelde elektrische micromobiliteit Friday, November 22, 11:30-13:00 Nejc Geržinič, Mark van Hagen, Dorine Duives and Niels van Oort [ abstract ] Gamen maakt de toekomst – Serious gamen voor een optimale mobiliteitsmix Friday, November 22, 11:30-13:00 Tessa Leferink, Niels van Oort and Sander Lenferink [abstract] De verkenning van de potentie van fietsparkeren bij het ov: een casus in Den Haag Madeline Lai, Dorine Duives, Stefan Talen, Nejc Geržinič and Niels van Oort Friday, November 22, 14:00-15:30 [abstract]

A key solution to grid congestion

On behalf of the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute, researchers Kenneth Brunninx and Simon Tindemans are handing over a Position Paper to the Dutch Parliament on 14 November 2024, with a possible solution to the major grid capacity problems that are increasingly cropping up in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is unlikely to meet the 2030 climate targets, and one of the reasons for this is that large industry cannot switch to electricity fast enough, partly because of increasingly frequent problems around grid capacity and grid congestion. In all likelihood, those problems will actually increase this decade before they can decrease, the researchers argue. The solution offered by the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute researchers is the ‘flexible backstop’. With a flexible backstop, the current capacity of the power grid can be used more efficiently without sacrificing safety or reliability. A flexible backstop is a safety mechanism that automatically and quickly reduces the amount of electricity that an electric unit can draw from the grid (an electric charging station or a heat pump) or deliver (a PV installation). It is a small device connected or built into an electrical unit, such as a charging station or heat pump, that ‘communicates’ with the distribution network operator. In case of extreme stress on the network, the network operator sends a signal to the device to limit the amount of power. Germany recently introduced a similar system with electric charging stations. The backstop would be activated only in periods of acute congestion problems and could help prevent the last resort measure, which is cutting off electricity to users. ‘Upgrading the electricity network remains essential, but in practice it will take years. So there is a need for short-term solutions that can be integrated into long-term planning. We, the members of the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute, call on the government, network operators and regulator to explore the flexible backstop as an additional grid security measure,’ they said. The entire Paper can be read here . Kenneth Brunninx Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Governance and Management, where he uses quantitative models to evaluate energy policy and market design with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. Simon Tindemans is Associate Professor in the Intelligent Electrical Power Grids group at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. His research interests include uncertainty and risk management for power grids. TU Delft PowerWeb Institute is a community of researchers who are investigating how to make renewable energy systems reliable, future proof and accessible to everyone.