Greater Magdeburg becomes a model region for intelligent mobility

Scientists at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg are working intensively to develop the Magdeburg metropolitan area into a model region for intelligent mobility. Together, engineers, computer scientists, environmental psychologists, social scientists, logisticians and network experts are developing and testing intelligent mobility concepts, such as call services for autonomous micromobiles, testing the use of driverless shuttle buses, optimizing the interaction of innovative means of transport with existing infrastructures and conducting acceptance research.

As an example, a passenger transport and logistics traffic network is to be set up by 2022 in Magdeburg as a major city with a large rural catchment area and the associated challenges, which will enable and regulate communication between road users, vehicles and the entire transport infrastructure intelligently and in real time. In addition, the question of how transport and energy networks could be coupled plays a role. To this end, the state of Saxony-Anhalt is funding four projects, among others: 

As part of the AuRa - Flexible Use of Autonomous Bicycle Systems for Logistics and Transportation project, an on-call service is to be set up for a fleet of autonomous e-bikes in Magdeburg's city center near the campus, which can be called by app and then navigate autonomously to the user. By 2022, up to 10 autonomous three-wheeled e-bikes are to be developed in such a way that they complement public and individual local transport in an ecologically and economically effective way and are to be used in a bike-sharing system with a bicycle call function in the vicinity of the university campus. Currently, studies are being conducted on how road users interact with the autonomous bicycle in public spaces. In the process, tests were conducted in the mixed reality lab. In the unique 360° simulation environment, traffic situations can be recreated virtually. To make the test as realistic as possible, the urban area of Magdeburg was recreated.

In the GATEmobil - Mobile Galileo Test Bed Saxony-Anhalt project of the University of Magdeburg, mobile test beds are being developed that make it possible to digitally test autonomous mobility applications in real time under real operating conditions. Based on previous studies on communication between vehicles and traffic infrastructures, scientists are working on systems that record traffic information such as traffic jams or road works in real time and forward it to road users or their vehicles. Based on the ongoing project to equip emergency call pillars on highways with sensors for this purpose, mobile test routes are being set up in both urban and rural areas as part of GATEmobil. The focus is on topics such as energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in order to achieve the climate targets of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Within the project AS-NaSA - Automated Shuttle Buses - Benefit Analysis Saxony-Anhalt, a study is being funded to investigate the benefits and acceptance of automated shuttle buses in Saxony-Anhalt's public transport system. In order to be able to conduct an analysis based on real driving experiences, the scientists are planning test operations on pilot routes between the Port of Science and the Otto von Guericke University campus in Magdeburg, among other places, starting in 2020.

In the Talk To Me project - Intelligent communication of roadside units with vehicles, the communication of traffic infrastructure, e.g. traffic signals, with vehicles is being monitored. Starting in 2020, radio stations will be installed in urban areas whose signals will be detected by passing vehicles and provide them with information on traffic flow. Adapted driving behavior should ultimately prevent unnecessary acceleration or braking, reducing fuel consumption, pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

More: https://www.aura.ovgu.de/en/

Video: https://youtu.be/duaFJBIPHAU