For centuries, Santa's sleigh has seen no innovations. That's why the experts at fka have teamed up this year to give the sleigh in our Advent calendar an upgrade.

In the Christmas greeting of our managing director, Dr.-Ing. Jens Kotte, you can experience all the changes we have implemented on Santa's sleigh again in a video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1: Use of Sustainable and Recycled Materials

To make Santa's sleigh more sustainable, recycled and sustainable materials can be used.

The sled can be made largely from wood instead of using more environmentally unfriendly materials such as plastic. To provide the sled with the necessary comfort, we use recycled plastic waste for the seat covers.

Do you have questions about the use of sustainable and recycled materials? Then please contact Lutz Berger via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Day 2: Load-path Optimized Design

Lightweight design should not be forgotten in Santa's sleigh either. In order to make the sleigh as light as possible and increase the payload of the presents, the experts at fka analyze the load paths and only add material where it is actually needed.

Do you have questions about load path optimized design? Then please contact Lutz Berger via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 3: Reindeer Flight Simulator

In the Reindeer Flight Simulator, Santa can test various models of the sleigh. The results of these tests are analyzed by fka experts and used to further optimize the sleigh.

Do you have questions about driving simulators? Then please contact Martin Henne via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

 

Day 4: Optimized Skid Design

Our experts in the field of chassis optimize the skids of the sled. The new design ensures optimal operation on the ground and in the air. Even on icy surfaces, Santa can always rely on the new skids.

Do you have questions in the area of chassis? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  

Day 5: Ergonomic Control Element

The reins used to steer the sleigh can get tangled, diminishing the riding experience or making it dangerous. To prevent this, the experts at fka are developing an ergonomic control element for Santa's sleigh.

Do you have any questions about ergonomic controls? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

  

 

Day 6: Acoustic Sled Alerting System (ASAS)

The bell sound, which can be switched on and off, provides safety for other road users, who are warned in good time before a sled passes through.

During the flight, the bells are deactivated, so Santa can enjoy the pleasant silence in the air.

Do you have questions about Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS)? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Day 7: Spread Hoof Shape for Optimal Power Transmission

Reindeer should also be optimally equipped for their task. A spread hoof shape ensures the best possible power transmission.

In addition, the experts at fka are developing special reindeer shoes for unusual applications or sensitive reindeer.

Do you have any questions about optimal power transmission? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 8: Deer-by-wire

With the Deer-by-wire control system, the reindeer are no longer controlled mechanically by reins, but electrically by cable.

Do you have any questions about steer-by-wire? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 Day 9: Redundant Actuators

The overall "Santa's sleigh" system must be designed to be fail-safe to ensure that all presents arrive on time.

That's why the experts at fka rely on redundant actuators for the reins, for example.

Do you have any questions about redundant actuators? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 10: Fleet Management

Fka's fleet management optimizes Santa's route planning based on the reindeer's favorite feeding grounds. Enchanted forests for reindeer are located at selected points along the route so that the reindeer can take turns and have a comfortable work-life balance.

Do you have any questions about fleet management? Then please contact Manfred Crampen via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 Day 11: Pedal Drive

As an alternative to a sleigh pulled by reindeer, a pedal drive can be considered. This provides movement and encourages athletic competition during the gift distribution.

In addition to Santa Claus, the elves also have fun handing out the presents with a pedal drive.

Do you have any questions about pedal drives? Then please contact Manfred Crampen via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 Day 12: Stardust Fusion Drive

The stardust fusion drive developed especially for Santa Claus was tested by fka experts for 24 hours under full load on specially designed test equipment.

This drive can be used to support the reindeer or as a stand-alone drive. The stardust fusion drive shows its advantages particularly during take-off and landing.

Do you have any questions about drives? Then please contact Manfred Crampen via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 Day 13: Special Yaw Rate Sensor

The tiny yaw rate sensor is attached to the antlers of the reindeer and measures the movement around the vertical axis.

If the sleigh starts to skid, the sensor gives an alarm and prevents the sleigh from becoming uncontrollable as well as losing the precious gifts.

Do you have any questions about these types of sensors? Then please contact Daniel Wegener via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 Day 14: Pedestrian Protection

Santa's new sleigh is covered on the outside with a soft layer of gingerbread. This not only looks Christmassy, it also smells good and protects other road users in the event of an accident.

Do you have any questions about body engineering? Then please contact Lutz Berger via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 15: Rotating Seat for Easy Entry and Exit

For older or impaired Santas, fka's experts equip the sleigh with a rotating seat that makes it easier to get in and out of the sleigh.

Do you have any questions about rotating seats? Then please contact Lutz Berger via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 16: Requirement Engineering

Santa Claus has all the children's wish lists turned into optimally suited gift suggestions by the fka experts through requirement engineering. This guarantees shining eyes under the Christmas tree!

Do you have any questions about requirement engineering? Then please contact Manfred Crampen via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 17: Head-up Display

The head-up display provides Santa with route information while driving and offers infotainment with minimal driver distraction.

Do you have any questions about head-up displays? Then please contact Lutz Berger via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 18: Automated Approach to the Chimneys

Santa's new sleigh automatically finds every chimney and has filed them in an HD map. The route is optimized so that all gifts are delivered on time.

Do you have any questions about automated driving? Then please contact Adrian Zlocki via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 19: Collision Avoidance System

The fka experts have developed a collision avoidance system for the sled that avoids any collisions with birds or airplanes.

Do you have any questions about this or similar systems? Then please contact Adrian Zlocki via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 20: Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of the Sled

Our colleagues from Strategy & Consulting also looked at the sled from their perspective. The lifecycle assessment looks for optimization potentials, e.g. with regard to CO2 emissions. It also looks at production locations, alternative materials and a reduction in flying speed.

Do you have any questions about lifecycle assessment? Then please contact Ingo Olschewski via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 21: Measures to increase Energy Efficiency

To further increase the sled's energy efficiency, we integrated a system for altitude energy recovery during descent and carried out several aerodynamic optimizations.

Do you have any questions about this or similar systems? Then please contact Ingo Olschewski via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 22: Expansion to include Digital Business Models and Services

Together with Santa Claus, the fka experts considered which digital business models and services could be used to expand gift delivery.

Do you have any questions about digital business models? Then please contact Ingo Olschewski via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Day 23: Reindeer Resources

For the last day before Christmas, Santa has been consulting intensively with fka's HR department to increase the reindeer's satisfaction and appreciate their hard work. That's why Santa is handing out small gifts to his reindeer today.

Do you have any questions for our HR department? Then please contact Jessica Schulz via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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