Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI

The use of hydrogen enables emission-free mobility and is considered to be an essential element for the attainment of climate goals of the German federal government as well as crucial in the transition towards clean energy. ELO Mobility and the Fraunhofer IVI are jointly developing a new generation of revolutionary city buses with hydrogen drive technology. These new types of buses will consume significantly less hydrogen, so that the optimization potential in terms of range and operating costs will be significantly improved compared to currently available vehicle technologies. Support is thereby also provided by the partner company HyMove B. V. from the Netherlands. Using the findings from the project, the »Go4City« partners are planning to produce a new generation of high-performance hydrogen buses from the year 2022 on.

»Go4City« receives funding by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure within the National Innovation Programme Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). 

• read more in the press release

Since there is still no consistent testing and certification process for additively manufactured components, a large proportion of the samples must be tested destructively. In order to simplify and accelerate the approval process for such components in aviation in the future, a self-learning, Big Data and AI-based platform for digital testing and certification processes is being developed in the CertiFlight project (»Consistent digital quality assurance chains for innovative approval processes using the example of additive manufacturing technologies«). The virtual kick-off meeting with all project partners took place on January 26.

In CertiFlight, the analysis of all process steps and the use of artificial intelligence methods are intended to identify the quality-relevant process parameters in order to subsequently certify not only a component, but the entire production process. The aim is to use the Fraunhofer AI to develop various modular data analysis components in order to analyze the data generated during this process in its entirety, and to be able to make statements regarding the quality of the additively manufactured components.

In the project, Fraunhofer IVI focuses on Big Data analysis based on parallelizable AI methods. The interdisciplinary consortium also includes two other scientific partners (TU Dresden and BTU Cottbus Senftenberg) as well as three industrial partners (IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH, Inquence GmbH and AM Metals GmbH). Thus, the entire value chain from the machine manufacturer to the licenser to the user is covered. With a planned duration of 51 months, the project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is to be completed by the beginning of 2025.

The Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, presented three so-called »future checks«, i. e. grant notifications, to newly launched research projects during a virtual meeting on December 18, 2020. The funding in the field of automation and connectivity focuses on application-oriented research projects – both in urban and rural areas. Fraunhofer IVI participates in two of the three projects that have now been selected in the second funding call.

ARCADIA study equips drones and light aircrafts with camera systems

To what extent can real accidents and the associated accident parameters be recorded on video? In the feasibility study ARCADIA, together with the companies Airclip and FlightLevel, it will be investigated whether a survey from the air is feasible – thus resulting in a larger survey area. With the help of drones and light aircrafts, real road accidents will be recorded in order to further develop assistance systems and accident simulations. In the future, this will help to better warn road users of critical situations.

Virtual, digital test field for highly automated driving functions in the SAVe NoW project

The Fraunhofer Application Center »Connected Mobility and Infrastructure« is participating in the SAVe NoW research project, which will produce a holistic simulation model that can be used to test highly automated driving functions more quickly and economically. In order to make the tests and their results more tangible, a dialog platform will serve as a kind of »interactive showcase«.

• Further information in the press relase of the BMVI (German)

How can the e-truck AutoTruck contribute to more efficient airfreight transport? During the final test in the research project »Smart Air Cargo Trailer« at Frankfurt Airport, the AutoTruck was successfully used in combination with the control center software helyOS and the maneuver planning software TruckTrix^® to realize the autonomous transport between freight forwarder and air cargo handler. The aim of the project was to use intelligent truck trailers – so-called »Smart Trailers« – and a cloud-based platform to control transports autonomously and according to demand, thus optimizing landside airfreight transport. As a cooperation partner for the realization of autonomous transport, Fraunhofer IVI provided the AutoTruck as the necessary vehicle and contributed their expertise for the test phase.

»Smart Air Cargo Trailer« is coordinated by the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences and project partners include CargoSteps GmbH & Co. KG, Dachser SE, Fraport AG, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics – Center for Logistics and Mobility (CML), LUG aircargo Handling GmbH and Sovereign Speed FRA GmbH. The project was funded within the framework of the Innovation Promotion Hessen from grants of the LOEWE – State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence.

Project video (German)

Project website

Further information about the AutoTruck, the control center software helyOS and the maneuver planning software TruckTrix®