Andreas Zeck

PhD Researcher @ Auburn University

I am an electrical engineering PhD student and graduate researcher at Auburn University, where I work in the Auburn RFID Lab and hold a Gavin Fellowship. My research focuses on RF sensing, multimodal sensor fusion, radio mapping, and spatial representations for autonomous systems. I am particularly interested in combining wireless signals such as mmWave radar, RFID, and Wi-Fi with vision and robot state to improve localization, environmental understanding, and decision-making. My broader engineering background covers communications systems, robotics, networking, industrial automation, and cybersecurity. Before starting my PhD I worked at Siemens on network and process control solutions and hold multiple certifications in information security. I also bring leadership experience from emergency response and communications roles with the Bavarian Red Cross and volunteer fire services.

Since joining the Bavarian Red Cross in 2018, my journey has been a fulfilling blend of active emergency medical services, disaster relief efforts, and leadership in information and communication technologies. This experience has not only honed my skills in crisis intervention and patient care but also in managing and securing critical IT infrastructure essential for efficient emergency response.

My involvement in student representation has spanned multiple roles, each offering unique challenges and opportunities to effect change within the university landscape. From engaging with state-level educational policies to facilitating smoother operations within my faculty, my experience has been both broad and deeply impactful.

My involvement with the Chaos Computer Club and Backspace e.V. highlights a dedicated journey towards enhancing cybersecurity awareness and technological empowerment. As an active participant and supporter of the annual Chaos Communication Congress, my role extends beyond the realm of an attendee. Volunteering as an "Angel", I take on essential responsibilities such as being a hall manager and therefore managing the flow of attendees, ensuring the smooth operation of this pivotal event. Every four years, this extends to the Chaos Communication Camp, where my contributions help shape an environment conducive to learning and collaboration. Additionally, my background as a paramedic allows me to serve within the congress's Chaos Emergency Response Team (CERT), providing crucial medical support and ensuring the safety of all participants.

Elevating my commitment to the cybersecurity community, I have been appointed as the ERFA chairperson for the Bamberg district. In this capacity, I collaborate with other chairpersons to navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity in Germany, fostering discussions that aim to advance our collective security and knowledge.

My engagement with Backspace e.V., a vibrant hacker-/makerspace, has been equally rewarding. Teaching individuals how to utilize technology, from operating 3D printers and laser cutters to mastering their software, has been a fulfilling aspect of my membership. Additionally, I've supported and led various projects, including the "Freifunk" initiative, which involved setting up a gateway detailed in the projects section of this webpage. This effort not only expanded my technical prowess but also contributed to providing the community with access to free and unrestricted internet, reinforcing the importance of digital freedom and inclusivity.

In my role with the Bamberg volunteer fire brigade, my contributions complement my experience as a paramedic with the Bavarian Red Cross, further enhancing my knowledge and leadership skills within emergency response scenarios. My certification as a breathing apparatus carrier allows me to actively participate in frontline firefighting operations, not just from the exterior but also within structures, directly combating fires. This, coupled with my truck driving license, empowers me to operate the brigade's largest response vehicles, providing substantial support during missions. As the IT coordinator for the brigade, I have spearheaded numerous projects, one of the most significant being the enhancement of our alerting system which you can find here under "Digital Advancement in Emergency Response".

The Distributed Network for Agricultural Monitoring (DNAM) is a decentralized system for agricultural monitoring. It utilizes LoRaWAN technology to transmit real-time data from self-sufficient sensor boxes, called LoRaLinks, strategically placed across agricultural fields. LoRaLinks are equipped with energy-efficient components, including solar cells, rechargeable batteries, and a variety of sensors, allowing them to monitor crucial parameters like soil moisture, temperature, nitrogen content, and pH values. This data is transmitted to a central website, where it can be visualized not only as tables or graphs but, with an integrated GPS unit, on live maps, empowering farmers to optimize crop production. DNAM offers cost-effective, energy-efficient, and user-friendly solutions for precision farming.

Within the scope of the Freifunk community project, the responsibility for deploying and maintaining a gateway was undertaken that facilitated the creation of a local "Hood" for Bamberg, Germany. This endeavor provided the foundational infrastructure to support an open, public Wi-Fi network across various establishments including restaurants, pubs, fitness centers, and public facilities, enabling them to offer free internet access without the need for splash pages or other restrictive measures. By employing WireGuard peering techniques, the gateway was interconnected with others through the f3netze e.V. association, thereby ensuring secure and seamless network connectivity. A crucial aspect of the project was the setup and configuration of routers, which were designed to mesh together. This not only expanded the network's coverage and enhanced its resilience but also allowed for the operation of access points in locations lacking direct internet connections. The project exemplifies a commitment to promoting digital inclusion and community connectivity, while also emphasizing technical skills in cybersecurity, network management, and the implementation of decentralized network infrastructures.

free as in free speech, not free beer.

Richard Stallman

As the IT coordinator for the volunteer fire brigade, an important project was undertaken to improve the effectiveness of emergency response through digital means. This project focused on creating a secondary alerting system that supplemented the traditional use of pagers, targeting the enhancement of communication by delivering essential incident information directly to the personal devices of the brigade members and to tablets in the vehicles. Through the integration of the Divera24/7 service, a solution was crafted that allowed for the swift and efficient dissemination of alerts.

The cornerstone of this system was a custom software designed to receive and analyze emergency alerts via OCR (Optical Character Recognition). After processing, these alerts were formatted and sent to the Divera API, ensuring that the information was not only accurate but also readily actionable. This setup extended to displaying critical information on screens located in strategic areas within the fire station, providing details such as the incident location, nature of the emergency, weather conditions, and crucial infrastructural points like hydrant locations.

A key feature of the system was its ability to tailor information delivery through a permissions-based approach, which refined the relevance of the data according to the specific roles within the brigade. This method significantly improved the clarity and speed of communication, directly contributing to a more efficient and coordinated response to emergencies. This initiative represents a vital step towards leveraging technology to support the critical work of emergency responders.

In an ambitious venture within the "Jugend Forscht" state research competition, my high-school colleague Michael Witt and I embarked on a multi-year project aimed at revolutionizing hydrogen production through efficient electrolysis and fuel cell technology. Our research, generously supported by the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen with both financial backing and access to their state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, focused on developing an electrolysis cell that balances affordability for the average consumer with high efficiency and performance. A key innovation in our project was the utilization of a special coating technique that allowed us to apply individual atomic layers of various materials under vacuum conditions. This method was instrumental in maximizing the surface area and conductivity of the electrodes, crucial factors in enhancing the cell's overall efficiency and hydrogen production rate.

This endeavor led to the successful completion of our concept for electrode manufacturing, subsequently shifting our focus towards the innovation of membrane production. A pivotal goal of our project was to circumvent the use of precious metals, traditionally essential for such technologies, thereby achieving a significant reduction in production costs without compromising on the cell's efficiency or hydrogen output. This approach not only promised to enhance the economic feasibility of hydrogen cells but also aimed to pave the way for their widespread adoption, contributing to the global shift towards sustainable energy sources. Our dedication to creating a cost-effective, high-performance electrolysis cell illustrates our commitment to addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges through innovation and research.

Articles:

Whether you have a question, a collaborative idea, or just want to connect, I'd love to hear from you. Drop me a message, and let's create something impactful together!