Raphael Pfaff

Prof. Raphael Pfaff is a Professor at Aachen University of Applied Sciences’ Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, affiliated with the European Center for Sustainable Mobility (ECSM). His research focuses on rail vehicle technology, braking systems, autonomous systems, and Industry 4.0 integration in transportation. He leads projects like the European Railway Challenge and SAMIRA, developing advanced perception systems and sensor technologies for freight trains. He advises students on thesis topics related to driver assistance systems, automation, and safety, using tools like the Thesis Canvas. Office hours are by appointment at KMAC 05016, Hohenstaufenallee 10, Aachen.

Key projects include the Railway Challenge (a student competition on rail innovation) and SAMIRA (a reversing camera system for freight trains). He collaborates with industry partners like Knorr-Bremse and the German Railway Industry Association. His work emphasizes cyber-physical systems, condition-based maintenance, and energy efficiency in rail operations.

Publications span 2005–2025, covering topics like brake system modeling, wheel-rail contact dynamics, and Industry 4.0 applications in freight wagons. He advocates for APA referencing and serif fonts in academic writing, providing templates on GitLab for thesis development.