MCI student wins Infineon iBike Challenge

Martin Tröber, student at the Entrepreneurial School^®, awarded for innovative electric-powered bicycle trailer: the future potential in international markets is enormous, and the prize is testimony to his outstanding work

The Infineon Austria Innovation Days have become an internationally renowned event. Their goal is to present to the world the best of young talents. First place in this year’s Infineon iBike Challenge went to MCI student Martin Tröber and, thus, to the Entrepreneurial School®, Innsbruck: the Mechatronics student was able to convince the jury with his iBike Phantom Trailer, an electric-powered bike trailer. Tröber came up with the idea during a family vacation when he hit the wall while carrying both child and baggage in his bike trailer during a bike tour through mountainous terrain.

Due to traction and thrust measurement at the shaft and a load balancing mechanism, the electric bike trailer gives the impression of not being present at all. A magnetic field sensor measures shaft movement and transmits a signal to the microcontroller unit controlling the motor and, consequently, the acceleration or deceleration of the trailer respectively.

The Infineon iBike Challenge called on students at all Austrian universities to develop a concept for an electric bicycle. One of the requirements was to use as many Infineon components as possible. After an initial online pitch, three finalist teams were invited to present their concepts to a jury of four Infineon experts. In addition to a prize money of 2,000 euro, Martin Tröber now also receives the opportunity to work with the semiconductor manufacturer on developing his prototype further and getting it ready for the market.

During the announcement of the winners, Jury Member Robert Czetina explained: “Innovation often means not only to create what is in demand, but also to pursue an idea until its realization. Mister Tröber has demonstrated this courage and entered the pitch with a finished prototype with Infineon components.”

Infineon and the Entrepreneurial School® have worked together successfully as partners for many years. Just last year, a shared research laboratory in Innsbruck, the Emerging Applications Lab, was founded to strengthen the scientific cooperation, benefitting both sides and the joint location for science and business.

Press contact
Mag.(FH) Ulrike Fuchs
+43 512 2070-1527
ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu