Technical Papers on High-Precision Positioning, Drive, Sensor, and Control Technologies: PI Publishes Proceedings of First Symposium on Mechatronics System Design

Proceedings of the first PI Symposium on Mechatronics System Design are a compilation of technical papers on high-precision positioning, drive technology, sensing, control, and metrology. (Image: © Alex Vog / Shutterstock.com — edited)

Around 95 representatives from industry and research convened at the first PI Symposium on Mechatronics System Design at PI’s headquarters in Karlsruhe, Germany. (Photo: PI)

Proceedings preview: The publication documents technical approaches from industry and research. (Image: PI)

The papers discuss the interplay of mechanical components, drive technology, sensing, control, and metrology in high-precision motion systems. Topics range from cryogenic positioning and wafer-level testing to parallel kinematics, hexapods, MagLev systems, and piezo-based drives. Additional areas of focus include interferometric measurement, error budgeting and compensation strategies, as well as modeling, simulation, and learning-based control approaches.

Expert Exchange Between Research and Industry

The first PI Symposium on Mechatronics System Design was held at PI’s headquarters in Karlsruhe, Germany, bringing together around 95 participants. The aim was to foster expert exchange on current developments and application-related challenges in high-precision motion and positioning technology. Members of PI teams from various countries were in attendance, along with guests from industry and research.

Guest contributors included ACS Motion Control, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, the IMMS Institute for Microelectronics and Mechatronic Systems, and the JKU HOERBIGER Research Institute for Smart Actuators at Johannes Kepler University Linz.

Keynotes were delivered by Dr. Florian Poltschak of the JKU HOERBIGER Research Institute for Smart Actuators and Dr. Ludwig Herzog of IMMS Ilmenau.  Their talks covered linear drives and wear, as well as error budgets and the accuracy of long-range nanopositioning systems.

“By publishing the proceedings, we are providing access to the symposium’s technical content beyond the actual event.  The publication promotes ongoing exchange between research and industry,” said Dr. Christian Rudolf, Director, Technology Center Drives & Systems at PI, who organized and moderated the symposium while also serving as editor of the proceedings.

Further Reading

At PI: https://www.pi.ws/smsd-2026

At Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/21281302

Physik Instrumente (PI) in Brief

Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, PI is the market and technology leader in high-precision positioning technology and piezo applications for the industrial automation, photonics, semiconductor, and microscopy and life sciences market segments. For more than 50 years, PI’s approximately 1,900 specialists have been working closely with customers around the world to push the boundaries of what is technically possible. This progress is built on a broad range of drive technologies, internally developed sensor technology, electronics, and control technology. PI’s portfolio ranges from components and subsystems to tailor-made complete solutions. More than 560 granted and pending patents underscore the company’s claim to leadership in precision positioning and piezo technology. PI operates on a global scale, with nine production sites in Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as 16 sales and service subsidiaries. PI has been part of the Hoerbiger Group since April 2026.

For more information on PI and Hoerbiger, visit www.physikinstrumente.com and www.hoerbiger.com.