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Mobility of the future
This July, we turn the spotlight on the future of mobility and the groundbreaking innovations shaping how we move—on the ground, in the air, and even in space. At TUD Dresden University of Technology, the Smart Mobility Lab in Lusatia is set to become a real-world lab for testing autonomous vehicles and aircraft. At Fraunhofer IAO, projects like LightRide and the “Wizard-of-Oz” vehicle explore how light and human-machine interaction can enhance automated driving. Meanwhile, in Bavaria, researchers use AI to improve autonomous driving under severe weather conditions. And at the Forschungscampus Mittelhessen, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen join forces to develop sustainable electric propulsion systems for future space travel. Dive into the diverse, interdisciplinary research landscapes that are redefining tomorrow’s mobility across Germany.
Building the Future of Space Flight
Space applications research in Giessen looks back on a long history. Since the 1960s, researchers have been working on electric propulsion systems as a viable and increasingly successful alternative to chemical spacecraft propulsion. Within the Research Focus “Space Applications” Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences collaborate across disciplines ranging from electrical engineering to materials science and space physics.
Providing answers to the pressing questions of space propulsion does not only rely on highly interdisciplinary collaboration and the combination of institutional tradition with cutting-edge technologies, it also requires specialized equipment to investigate thrusters and electronics under simulated space conditions in test facilities which are unique in Europe.
Learn more about how FCMH researchers work together to make the future of space mobility safer, more efficient and sustainable in this video.
Safer Roads With Autonomous Mobility
How can automated driving in severe weather be made more safe? Doctoral candidate Mohamed Mofeed Chaar is using machine learning to achieve the vision of accident-free road traffic.
The weather in Germany is often better than its reputation. When Mohamad Mofeed Chaar analyzes weather data, it’s not for his weekend plans, but rather to achieve the vision of accident-free road traffic. Autonomous driving technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way people work and travel, as well as reducing traffic congestion and the number of road fatalities. It is only when autonomous vehicles interact safely and reliably with active and passive road users that the vision of zero accidents can be achieved. One of the many challenges Autonomous Driving (AD) systems face is accurate perception under severe weather conditions.
Wizard of Oz and Automated Driving
The fully automated car does not yet exist, but researchers at the Fraunhofer IAO and the IAT at the University of Stuttgart are working hard to advance this vision. Their main tool: the Wizard-of-Oz-vehicle.
At first glance, it looks like a normal delivery van: medium-sized, dark blue, with a sliding door and a spacious loading area for transporting goods, parcels and tools. But a closer look reveals that this is no ordinary vehicle. With two steering wheels and two rear-view mirrors at the front, it looks more like a driving school car. There are gas and brake pedals on both sides. There is even a third, fully equipped driver's seat in the rear of the car, which the naive passenger is not aware of for the time being.
However, neither the second nor the third seat is intended for driving schoolteachers. The car is a so-called Wizard-of-Oz-vehicle and is on the road to conduct research. “For us, it is the ideal ‘moving laboratory’ to safely test automated driving in real traffic,” says Lesley-Ann Mathis, research associate at the Fraunhofer IAO.
Click here for more information (in German) or here for more infomation about the research unit Mobility and Innovation Systems.
LightRide: How Light is Changing Mobility
LightRide is an innovative solution for an improved driving experience! This project, which emerged from the interdisciplinary research of Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IBP, demonstrates how dynamic light in the vehicle can enhance the well-being and concentration of passengers. Through the integration of intelligent light panels and studies on various light patterns, it has been proven that light influences emotions and reduces stress. Test subjects reported feeling more relaxed after the ride. LightRide opens up new perspectives for a more pleasant future mobility. Learn more about the exciting connection between lighting technology, design and user research.
Smart Mobility Lab in Lusatia
One hectare in size and over 30 meters tall: Launching in 2027, the driving and flight test hall of the Smart Mobility Lab (SML) will house the latest technologies for the development, testing and technical monitoring of unmanned vehicles and aircraft. The research campus of TUD Dresden University of Technology is currently being built near Hoyerswerda in Lusatia. Next to unique labs such as a climate hall and an electromagnetic absorber chamber, the Dresden Driving Simulator (DDS) will be part of the cutting-edge research infrastructure for connected and automated mobility.
The establishment of this real-world laboratory for digital-based mobility technologies will create jobs for people with various qualifications in the fields of transportation science, mechanical engineering and IT. In addition to cooperation with regional companies, agricultural businesses, car manufacturers and partner networks, the aim is also to attract start-ups.
