Sep 09, 2026
Technology Meets Volunteerism: Apprentices Build a Remote-Controlled Emergency Vehicle for the Johanniter Youth
During “Tag der Johanniter,” held from September 4 to 6, the model vehicle – shaped like an ambulance – made its first successful deployment.
Apprentices at TUD—training to become industrial mechanics, mechatronics technicians, and electronics technicians for devices and systems, are working together with Johanniter-Jugend and members of the Johanniter’s disaster response team to develop and build an electrically powered model vehicle in the form of an ambulance. The project, which has been underway since last year, combines technical training with volunteer work and aims to inspire young people to pursue both fields. The vehicle was built in the TUD training workshop with support from the Workshop and Test Field Network (WVV) of the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering.
Technical trades offer exciting and varied opportunities. Many young people still know too little about the career possibilities in this field. At the same time, numerous young people volunteer and thereby make an important contribution to society. The joint project aims to bring these two worlds together: Young volunteers will gain insights into technical career fields, while TUD trainees will learn about the volunteer work of the Johanniter Youth and disaster response.
As part of the project, a model vehicle modeled after an ambulance was developed and built. In the future, it will be used in competitions and demonstrations to to transport medical supplies and other equipment for the Johanniter Youth and, above all, be used at the “Johanniter Day”—a major, regularly held state and national competition in first aid and emergency rescue organized by Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe. In six exciting competition categories, Johanniter volunteers of all ages demonstrate their skills and dedication. The vehicle is designed to drive autonomously, have its own power supply, and be transportable in a trailer.
The TUD students took on the planning and implementation of the project largely on their own. From development and design through to manufacturing, they coordinated the individual work steps themselves. Volunteers from Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe were closely integrated into the project teams and contributed their practical requirements and experience. The students were supported by staff from the TUD training workshop and the WVV at the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering. Together, they tinkered, tinker, screwed, and painted. Some of the materials used came from old test benches, which were thus given a second useful life.
“With this project, we want to show young people how versatile technical careers can be and what opportunities arise when different skills come together. Our apprentices take responsibility for their own project and apply their knowledge to a concrete social application. At the same time, this fosters an exchange with engaged young people from which both sides can benefit,” explains Lars Gladrow, head of the Workshop and Test Field Network.
The exchange worked both ways: While the TUD apprentices gave the Johanniter volunteers insights into their training and the work in a modern training workshop, the Johanniter volunteers trained the apprentices in first aid. Upon successful completion, they received a certificate that can be used, for example, toward obtaining a driver’s license later on.
The project was funded by the Saxon Switzerland–Osterzgebirge district. Additional support came from the Disaster Relief Volunteers’ and Support Association. In addition, the company Pretec from Dresden donated materials in the form of sheet metal blanks and bent parts, and the company Prosol also granted the project team generous discounts on the necessary paint. We would also like to thank the TUD’s vehicle fleet, which handled transportation, as well as the physics and electrical engineering workshops, which also provided support in the form of materials and tools.
Contact:
© Christian Hüller
Lars Gladrow
Werkstatt- und Versuchsfeldverbund der Fak. Maschinenwesen
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