Between sensor systems and Industry 4.0

Prof. Meißner, you’ve been a professor of Automation and intelligent systems in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science since March. How did you find your first few months at HSZG?

Like all of us, my first few months at HSZG during the 2021 summer semester were shaped by the pandemic and the resulting shift to online teaching. Despite the social distancing restrictions, I immediately felt warmly welcomed by all my colleagues, which made it easy for me to integrate into the teaching environment.

Where are your roots, and why did you choose the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences?

I’m originally from a small town in northern Hesse. I lived there until I began my studies in Wernigerode in the Harz Mountains. For the past 20 years, with brief stints in Calgary and Lüneburg, I’ve lived and worked in Wernigerode.

I chose Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences because the academic focus of the faculty and the position matched my profile and my ideal job exactly. In addition, after nearly 20 years of professional experience, I wanted to get more involved in research and teaching again.

What are your impressions of the region around Zittau and Upper Lusatia?

Zittau and Upper Lusatia remind me very much of my hometown and of Wernigerode. That’s why it was easy for me to settle in here. The proximity to the Zittau Mountains and the wide range of hiking and recreational opportunities also make it easier to settle in.

What are your main areas of focus in teaching and research?

My teaching currently focuses on sensor systems in classes / courses here in Zittau and at the CDHAW, as well as on project management. In the future, I’ll be adding more classes / courses in the fields of cyber-physical systems and Industry 4.0.

Where does your interest in these topics come from?

I grew up in a medium-sized company specializing in Mechanical Engineering, and unlike the other members of my family, I had little enthusiasm for Mechanical Engineering. That’s when our first home computer came along at just the right time, and so I got into computer science and automation technology very early on.

In-person vs. online teaching—the year was clearly shaped by the pandemic. How did that affect your teaching?

I’d already gained some experience with online teaching, but I have to admit that—despite the facilities here at HSZG and the support from my colleagues in online teaching—I definitely enjoy in-person teaching much more.

How did the collaboration with your students go?

Thanks to my many years of teaching experience, I’m well-versed in both in-person and online teaching. Collaboration with the students at our university went smoothly from the start, although I don’t find the somewhat more anonymous nature of online courses as interesting as in-person teaching, which offers good feedback.

Sensor systems, human-machine interfaces, cyber-physical systems—that sounds a bit like science fiction. What’s your take on that?

I definitely see it as a source of motivation. Back in the early ’70s, on the bridge of the Enterprise, there were tablet computers, communicators, and a talking onboard computer. All of these things are now available for home use. I’ll leave topics like warp drive and beaming to others. I think you have to distinguish between science fiction and science fantasy.

What are you currently researching?

Right now, my research is shifting back toward the topic of my PhD thesis on human-machine interfaces. A new research cluster is currently being established for this purpose, and the HSZG is participating in it.

When you’re not researching intelligent systems, what do you do in your free time?

I have three young children, and two years ago I bought an old half-timbered house. So my free time is completely booked up. We go hiking a lot in the Harz Mountains and swim. Otherwise, my job is my hobby.

The interview was conducted by Cornelia Rothe, M.A.