2016

Innovative and visionary projects are honored and become more visible within the framwork of a German-wide “Landmarks in the Land of Ideas” competition.

On November 2, 2016, DB RegioNetz GmbH received the certificate - signed by Federal President Joachim Gauck - for their research project EcoTrain. The award ceremony has taken place in Annaberg-Buchholz.

The conversion of the ‘Erzgebirgsbahn’ railcar happens in cooperation with TU Dresden, TU Chemnitz as well as the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI.

Due to its intended modular hybrid drive system, complete electrified auxiliary equipment and environmentally-friendly CO₂-air conditioning, the diesel and energy consumption shall be reduced. Hence, the noise and pollutant emission will be decreased.

On October 27, 2016, the EU research project »AutoNet2030 – Cooperative Systems in Support of Networked Automated Driving by 2030« was completed on the test site AstaZero in Sweden. The results are important milestones within the development of connected, highly automated driving.

In cooperation with automobile manufacturers, supplier and research institutions, ‘the AutoNet2030 project’ developed a system for cooperated driving in convoy within 3 years. Three essential components are integrated by the system: Cooperative decentralized control of the vehicles, communication for supporting automated driving maneuvers as well as on-board sensor technology for high-precision positioning and reliable detection of the environment.

The project’s concluding Workshop included specialized lectures and of course driving presentations. Dr. Andreas Festag, group leader of »Cooperative Systems« at the Fraunhofer IVI, introduced in his presentation enhanced communications technologies for cooperative automated driving. Driving presentations showed the drive of three vehicles in convoy formation with cooperative, automated maneuvers for changing lanes. A special aspect was mixed traffic, containing automated as well as manually controlled vehicles. The Fraunhofer IVI supported the driving presentation with a demonstrator for the visualization of the communication and automated maneuver. 

On September 8, 2016, the nine partners of the AutoTruck research project got together in Lehrte. One week before this event the three years project officially started under the leadership of Götting KG.

For realizing the fully automatic cooperative services of commercial vehicles in appropriate automation zones the following technologies shall be developed and demonstrated within a logistic center with adjacent access road:

• high-precision positioning and navigation,
• secure collision avoidance,
• car-2-infrastructure-communication,
• real-time maneuver-planning
• automatic docking.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) within the professional program »Neue Fahrzeug- und Systemtechnologien« (new vehicle and system technologies).

The closing event for the »EmiD – Elektromobilität in Dresden« project with its accompanying workshop for vehicle fleet managers was held on September 26 in the great plenary room of the Dresden city hall.

After the official greetings delivered by mayor Eva Jähnigen, councilwoman for the environment and municipal economy, and Dr. Lutz Bryja, department head with the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs (SMWA), Labor and Transport, the four project partners had the opportunity to present their results. In his presentation, Sebastian Pretzsch, group manager at the Fraunhofer IVI and official project leader, introduced a newly developed booking system for electric vehicles that includes guaranteed ranges and suggestions for recharging.   

EmiD is one of about 40 projects included in the Bavaria-Saxony ELEKTROMOBILITÄT VERBINDET showcase for electromobility and was funded by the State of Saxony within the scope of the showcase initiative of the German Federal Government.

• Press release (in German)

The Fraunhofer IVI and the Goldhofer AG presented several new developments regarding the planning and approval of of heavy and oversized haulages at the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicles.  

Among the developments presented was the novel TruckTrix^® algorithm that automatically analyzes the trafficability of entire routes, thus offering an objective basis for the approval of shipments. In addition, a joint development of the Fraunhofer IVI and a Fraunhofer spin-off enterprise was introduced that provides TruckTrix^® and other useful tools for an intuitive, reliable and fast online planning process.

• Flyer TruckTrix^®
• IAA Commercial Vehicles Website

Aspects such as the saving of material, flexible manufacturing and good user comfort are increasingly gaining importance in the field of railroad vehicles. The layout of railway cars can be optimized on the basis of analyses and simulations of passenger flows inside the vehicles. The mass-reduced manufacturing of side panels with individual door cut-outs can be realized by using low-distortion laser welding and fully connected integral processes. At the InnoTrans 2016 trade fair, the Fraunhofer IVI and the Fraunhofer IWS from Dresden presented technological solutions for the simulation of passenger flows and for highly efficient manufacturing methods based on low-heat laser welding.  

InnoTrans, being a leading international trade fair for traffic and transportation engineering, was held from September 20 to 23, 2016 in Berlin.

• Press Release (in German)
• InnoTrans Website

Visions and challenges concerning the digitalization and interconnection within the transportation sector were the main focus of the »Intelligent Solutions for Efficient Mobility« Expert Conference held by the Sächsische Energieagentur (SAENA). Enterprises and research institutions from Saxony presented their expertise and gave an insight into current developments, cutting-edge technologies and their practical experience. In his closing presentation titled »Synchronized Mobility in Dresden – Synchronized Mobility in Nevada«, Professor Matthias Klingner talked about ongoing international activities and cooperative projects.  

At the accompanying press conference, high-profile representatives from science, economy and politics answered the questions of the interested reporters.

• Press release (in German)

»Intelligent Innovative Smart Maintenance of Assets by Integrated Technologies« (IN2SMART) is the title of the first Research and Innovation project launched by the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking, in which the Fraunhofer IVI is participating. IN2SMART started on September 1st, 2016, and will run for a term of three years. A consortium of 19 partners – compiled from the JU's founding and associate members and coordinated by ANSALDO STS (Italy) – are going to collaborate on topics in the field of intelligent maintenance systems and strategies, as set out in the Shift2Rail call S2R-CFM-IP3-02-2016. All activities addressed in the IN2SMART project will be related to Innovation Programme 3 »Cost-efficient, sustainable and reliable high capacity infrastructure«, and in particular to Technical Demonstrators TD3.6 »Dynamic Railway Information Management System (DRIMS)«, TD3.7 »Railway Integrated Measuring and Monitoring System (RIMMS)«, and TD3.8 »Intelligent Asset Management Strategies (IAMS)«.

Within IN2SMART, the Fraunhofer IVI is leading Work Package 9 »Asset Management and Decision Support«, which will lay the foundation for future asset management in railway infrastructures. The main objective of WP9 is to design and study a generic framework for the decision-making process of maintenance and interventions planning. Requirements and specifications of the decision-making framework will be based on several business cases provided by infrastructure owners/managers, railway undertakings, maintenance contractors and service providers, which will be involved in the activities.

• More Information

Within the scope of the EU-funded iCOMPOSE project, the Fraunhofer IVI and the AVL List GmbH (Graz, Austria) are developing a model-based control strategy for the optimization of the energy consumed by vehicle heating and cooling systems. The model library and simulation environment developed in this context, as well as first results from the controller validation process, were recently presented to an broad expert audience at the 10th »Heat Management for Vehicles« Conference (10. Tagung »Wärmemanagement des Kraftfahrzeugs«) in Potsdam.

The complete paper and further contributions are now available in print (in German).

At this year’s event, almost 900 guests had the opportunity to gain fascinating insights into selected research projects of the Fraunhofer IVI. Under the motto »Staunend durch die Nacht« (Through the night in awe), the guests had the chance to make a few quiet laps on the test track – either as the drivers of an electric car or as the passengers of a plug-in-hybrid bus. A virtual tour of the autartec^® building, which was realized by an augmented reality app, was a highlight for the young and the old. A crafts and drawing table was provided for the youngest guests. In addition, they could participate in a treasure hunt during which they were able to get to know future-oriented locating and positioning technologies.

The Fraunhofer IVI was again chosen as the first stop on the special tour of Dresden’s First Mayor, Dirk Hilbert. Before the official start of the event, the tour’s high-profile guests, one of them being Saxony’s State Minister of Science and Art, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, had the opportunity to see the many booths and take part in the activities provided by the Fraunhofer IVI.

The EUSTO Final Conference with the title »Towards Secure Transport Systems« was recently held in the City Hall of Culture in Dresden/Germany, chaired by Dr. Ralf Hedel (Fraunhofer IVI). The conference aimed at bringing together researchers and practitioners in the field of surface transport and its protection, thus strengthening collaboration and cooperation. Speakers from several European countries and the U.S. addressed topics related to the protection of transport infrastructures and secure operations such as emerging threats, best practice and technological innovations. Finally, speakers and audience discussed high-priority topics for future research and development in a panel discussion.

Almost 70 experts from communities, trade associations, vehicle manufacturers and the logistics and applied research sectors participated in the »Electric Freight Traffic« User’s Day on May 30 and 31 at the Fraunhofer IVI in Dresden. Different points of view were presented and conflicts of interest were discussed – from controversial discussions about political framework conditions to the manufacturer-neutral description of technological options and the perspectives of manufacturers and users, especially shipping agents and logistics providers.

The participants were delighted by the opportunity to drive various electric vehicles of different classes relevant to electric freight traffic, such as small vans, delivery pedelecs, cars and even trucks. The organizers of the users’ day are planning to establish the event as a regular trade meeting for stakeholders in the electric logistics sector.

The Fraunhofer IVI and the DVB AG (Dresden Transport Provider), tested a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid bus in regular operation on line 61 until June 30, 2016. During the week, the articulated green-and-white bus was in operation for up to four times a day, providing additional transport service for the passengers. The test vehicle is able to drive fully electrically for about 15 kilometers, after which the diesel propulsion is activated. With these features, the vehicle is especially well-suited for lines leading through sensitive areas in terms of city planning. In addition, the bus has the same degrees of freedom as a conventional diesel bus.

• Link to the press release (in German only)

Under the motto »Deutschland hat Zukunft« (Germany has a future), an event on the topic »Automated Driving – Infrastructure« was held in the offices of Bayerische Wirtschaft vbw. While German Federal Minster Alexander Dobrindt gave a detailed explanation of the German federal government's strategy and planned measures, Prof. Matthias Klingner of the Fraunhofer IVI talked about the current state of the art in the field and presented the content of ongoing and future research projects.

In the context of the subsequent panel discussion, over 100 interested visitors had the opportunity to ask the high-profile panel members questions about autonomous driving and the operation of Intelligent Transport Systems. Additional members of the panel were AUDI AG board member Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Bavarian Regional Manager of KÜHNE + NAGEL Henning R. Mack, as well as the General Manager of vbw Bertram Brossardt.

The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV, public transport provider in the Rhein-Main region) is testing a completely new public transport tariff system called RMVSmart. The test is currently still limited to 20,000 customers who can use the offer via an app on their smartphones. The system combines needs-based prices for rail services with flat rates for the use of buses and trams. This way, the leaps in prices that occur at the tariff zone borders of the current RMV tariff system, and that have been heavily criticized by customers, are eliminated.  

Together with RMV and WVI GmbH, the Fraunhofer IVI developed the conceptual foundations of the new tariff offer and provided innovative software technology for the central RMVSmart fare calculator.

More information (in German language only):

• RMVSmart website
• Press release by RMV about the new offer
• Article on Hessenschau.de: So genau funktioniert der neue Smarttarif
• Article on faz.net: Preissprünge im S-Bahn-Netz nicht zu erklären

On May 2, 2016, a battery bus was officially put into operation within the scope of the EBus Batterfly project on route 89 of the Leipzig public transportation network In the presence of Leipzig’s mayor Burkhard Jung. The vehicle that services the route is the Fraunhofer IVI’s EDDA-Bus, which was provided by the institute for the duration of the test run together with a corresponding charging station. The bus is deployed in regular operation between Main Station and the Connewitz Kreuz terminus, where the batteries are recharged after every cycle. The recharging takes place during the bus’s regular turnaround times and does not require any additional time.

The bus is operated by Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB). The charging station is supplied with electric energy via the Leipzig tramway traction network, thus keeping the infrastructure expenditures at a minimum. The test run’s aim is to evaluate the operating options of battery buses with opportunity charging within the Leipzig public transportation network. The project receives funding from the German Federal Government’s Showcase Programme for Electromobility.

• Link to the press release (in German language)

This year's »Kraftwerk Batterie« conference held in Münster was devoted to the latest innovations and trends in all areas of battery development. The Fraunhofer IVI contributed a paper and a poster to the conference.

The paper titled »Increased Functional Safety: Redundant Temperature Estimation of Automotive Batteries« introduced a cost-efficient method for the early detection of overheating in battery modules based on impedance measurements. This method's distinguishing feature is that it allows temperature detection without relying on conventional temperature sensors.

The poster dealt with the topic »Enhancement of Battery Lifetime Using Model Predictive Control of Hybrid Energy Storage System« and illustrates the design and effects of a model predictive controller that controls the power flow in dual storage configurations with the aim of improving battery lifetime. The development results presented fit in seamlessly with the Fraunhofer IVI's long-standing research activities in the field of battery system development and algorithms.

Under the heading »Unsere e-Mission für Bonn.« (Our e-mission for Bonn), Stadtwerke Bonn proudly presented six battery buses to the general public. The vehicles, which were procured within the scope of the EU-funded ZeEUS project, will be gradually integrated into regular operation over the next few weeks. The overall aim was to evaluate their operational capability in the public transport network of Bonn regarding a number of different criteria. The larger background to the undertaking was the intention of Stadtwerke Bonn to convert all of their buses to full-electric operation in the next years, should this prove technically and economically feasible.

The Fraunhofer IVI accompanied the operation scientifically by determining the vehicles’ specific energy consumption per kilometer depending on the respective route characteristics. To achieve this, they installed measurement technology that records the amount of energy consumed on any specific route section. By comparing data from different route sections, it is possible to evaluate the feasibility of operating battery buses in the entire network.

The new mobility congress 2016 with accompanying trade fair was held at the Leipzig exhibition center. Over 60 prominent exhibitors presented their innovative concepts, products and services for the future of mobility in the connected infrastructures of cities and regions. Next to multi-modal transportation concepts and solutions for automated driving, electromobility was a major focus of the trade fair.

In this context, the Fraunhofer IVI had the opportunity to introduce its fast-charging battery bus at the booth of the Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB, public transport provider in Leipzig). The electric bus components and the corresponding fast-charging contact system were developed and made series-ready within the collaborative EDDA-Bus project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The bus has completed a very successful test run in Dresden's bus network and will start a new test run in Leipzig in the next months.

The battery bus was also presented at the Ergebniskonferenz des Schaufensters Elektromobilität (conference that introduces the results of the showcase project for electromobility), which was held on April 14 and 15, 2016, immediately following the new mobility congress, at the Leipzig exhibition center.

In many fields of everyday business life, applications of electromobility have established themselves as viable alternatives. This due partly to an increased public interest in the topic and corresponding funding initiatives, but also partly to economic deliberations of companies and beginning regulatory constraints.

The »Electric Freight Traffic« User’s Day organized by the Fraunhofer IVI will provide logistics service companies and shipping agents with independent and objective information on the opportunities and risks of electric freight traffic. Because these types of companies are faced with stricter emission and immission regulations, the threat of a ban from inner city regions and general economic challenges, they are under especially high pressure to take action.

• Press release (in German)
• Download PDF document (in German)

With the help of federal funding, the Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (public transport provider) and the Fraunhofer IVI are currently testing a plug-in hybrid bus in regular service as part of the Schaufenster Elektromobilität Bayern-Sachsen. The articulated bus provided by Swiss manufacturer Carrosserie Hess AG is equipped with a high-performance battery and power electronics from Vossloh Kiepe GmbH. The recharging process, which takes place at the Gruna bus depot, is carried out using a pantograph system by Schunk.

The installed battery has a nominal energy content of 48 kWh and can be recharged with 330 kW power. With its 38 kWh of usable energy, the bus can be driven fully electrically for a distance of up to 15 km. Due to these characterisitcs, it is especially suited for deployment on bus lines passing through areas that are sensitive in terms of city development.

In addition to the fully electric driving mode and the external recharging process, the test includes an adaptive, self-learning energy and performance management system for hybrid drive buses. The system self-adjusts to the characteristics of each bus line and aims at reducing fuel consumption.

The bus was tested for a period of several months on the topographically demanding line 61. Due to its varying elevation profile and passenger demand, this line offers ideal conditions for the testing of the energy and performance management system.

»Energy Storage Europe« held in Düsseldorf, Germany combines features of a trade show and a conference. The event offers great opportunities for both researchers and end users to talk about progress made in the field of stationary energy storage systems.  

The Fraunhofer IVI presented their battery monitoring system IVIon at the event. The system monitors entire battery modules and stores all information in a data base via radio communication. In addition to the position data, the batteries' temperature and voltage parameters are analyzed and transmitted. On the basis of this measuring data, ageing analyses are executed in real-time, making it possible to control the battery module's performance capacity at any given moment. These features make the approach equally attractive for users and sellers of battery modules.

Fraunhofer IVI as part of the consortium Smart DeMain has been nominated by the European Commission as one of nineteen Associated Members to participate in the Shift2Rail programme.

During the period 2016-2023, the consortium – composed of partners Strukton Rail, Acciona, DLR (German Aerospace Center), CEMOSA  and Fraunhofer – will contribute to the research programme with solutions for the design and maintenance of infrastructure components and systems in a holistic way.

Further information:

• www.shift2rail.org

The consortium partners have been working on their respective tasks since January, and now the project was officially kicked off. At the Berlin office of consortium leader Schenker Deutschland AG, the future of fleet management in general cargo logistics was initiated: FRAMO GmbH, the manufacturer of an electric cargo truck, software company PTV AG and the two research institutes Fraunhofer IVI and Institute of Post-Fossile Logistics PFL have joined forces to develop the IT-based iHub system for the management of mixed diesel-powered and electric truck fleets for a logistics center.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) within the scope of the »IKT für Elektromobilität III« program (ICT for Electromobility III), which means that it is a part of the »Digital Agenda 2014-2017« and additionally supports the research goals outlined in the government’s electromobility program.  

Electromobility is a particular challenge for general cargo logistics: in this sector, being fast, reliable and on time is especially important. Because of this, logistics service providers need transport vehicles that are always available without any restrictions. Electric vehicles seem at a disadvantage compared to diesel trucks due to their restrictive recharging needs. Therefore, the integration of electric trucks into the vehicle fleets of logistic service providers requires an intelligent management system that is able to compensate for this disadvantage by using dynamic route planning to assign orders to an electric truck only if the truck can execute them with the same level of reliability as would a diesel truck. Applying this kind of control strategy will be the main task of the iHub system currently in development.

In addition to the technological challenges, the system will ensure that the solution developed will be an economically feasible alternative to conventional truck fleets. For an optimization of the entire vehicle fleet’s economic efficiency, parameters such as »State of Use« – a battery’s level of wear and tear – will be utilized to allow a more regular deployment of the electric vehicles.

The systems developed and tested within the project will help to optimally deploy three electric trucks with a maximum total weight of 18 tons each at the Berlin office of Schenker Deutschland AG.

If the partners succeed in providing an IT-based solution that is able to make use of the systemic advantages of electromobility, such as low noise and greenhouse gas emissions, during practical application in a mixed vehicle fleet, an important development step on the way towards post-fossile, emission-free logistics will have been taken.