Safe and Efficient S-Pedelec Infrastructure (SESPIN)The aim of the SESPIN project is to develop transnational, scientifically validated infrastructural and techno-social solutions for the efficient and safe integration of S-pedelec riders into the general transportation system. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction with other road users. The aim is to generate recommendations for action that are accepted not only by S-pedelec riders, but by all road users and lead to increased road safety for everyone. This will be achieved through a combination of different methods, with particular emphasis on the holistic participation of all decision-makers and relevant users at different points in the study.

With the help of a literature analysis, a systematic classification of existing studies and solutions for S-pedelec cycling infrastructure is sought. Focus groups and surveys will be used to investigate the acceptance of legal regulations relating to S-pedelecs and to analyze the preference structure in the choice of cycling facilities. Based on this, a catalog of measures with recommendations for the selection and design of cycling infrastructure for S-pedelecs in the D-A-CH region will be developed, which will be evaluated by experts in a validation workshop. Selected recommendations for action will be validated on practical cycle path examples in the WIVW S-pedelec bicycle simulator. In summary, an empirically proven catalog of measures can be developed.

Funded by: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG GmbH) as part of the D-A-CH Cooperation Call 2022 (AT: BMK; DE: BMDV; CH: UVEK/ASTRA)
Start: September 1, 2022
End: February 29, 2024
Budget: 219.962 €
https://www.s-pedelec.net

ATLAS-L4 (Automated Transport between Logistics Centres on Level 4 Motorways) is a research and development project that combines the expertise of industry, science and infrastructure operators in a unique way to create a holistic approach to the operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways and motorways. ATLAS-L4 aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using Level 4 automated and thus driverless vehicles on motorways, thus laying the foundation for innovative transport and logistics concepts.

The project thus directly addresses the new opportunities opened up by the 2021 law on autonomous driving, which makes Germany a global pioneer. In this way, ATLAS-L4 contributes both to future-proofing road freight transport and to strengthening Germany as a business location. The overall goal of the project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affair and Climate Action, is to use autonomous driving between logistics hubs on motorways to help avoid traffic jams and accidents, to make vehicles more consumption-efficient and to counteract the shortage of drivers by eliminating less attractive driving tasks.

Co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
Start: January, 1st 2022
End: September, 30st 2024
Budget: 65 Mio. €
https://www.atlas-l4.com

The INITIATIVE project aims to develop AI-supported adaptive communication between different road users for the integration of automated vehicles in mixed traffic scenarios. To this end, the automated vehicle must provide appropriate communication interfaces for outside road users (external HMI) and for passengers in the vehicle (internal HMI). These are developed and validated in the project. Furthermore, the intention of the communication participants is to be recorded by means of camera-based methods and taken into account in the AI-based communication in order to ensure that the messages are transmitted according to the situation. In order to avoid misunderstandings among the participants, the messages of the external and internal HMI must be synchronized accordingly.

The function of the HMI systems and the sensors is also evaluated across the project. To identify relevant participants in a communication, metadata from a networked infrastructure (external sensors) is used, which is transmitted using C2X communication. In the overall context of a mixed traffic scenario, AI methods are suitable for synchronizing messages, recognizing the intentions of communication participants and preselecting relevant road users.

Co-funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Start: 1st April 2021
End: 31st March 2024
Budget: 4.09 Mio. €
https://www.initiative-projekt.de

The RUMBA research project aims to realize a positive user experience by developing a user-friendly interior design for automated driving functions. With the introduction of fully automated driving, drivers become passengers. Related thereto, the requirements for vehicle interior and HMI concepts are changing. Over a project period of 3.5 years, the project partners are jointly pursuing the goal of completely redesigning the driving experience for passengers during fully automated driving.

In a user-centred design process, user requirements are analysed, new concepts are developed, and iteratively evaluated with empirical user studies. Within the scope of the project, the WIVW primarily focuses on the development of interior and HMI concepts that ensure comfortable sleeping during fully automated driving and safe take over situations after sleep.

Co-funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Start: 1st September 2020
End: 29th February 2024
Budget: 21.7 Mio. €
https://projekt-rumba.de

EMotion – In order to comply with future emission restrictions, strategies have to be developed for cities in order to reduce traffic and thus pollution. Clean and energy-efficient, electrically powered two-wheelers that coexist on the street with cars, bicycles and public transport will be an essential part of the solution. Eleven partners from industry and science jointly develop electric L-category vehicles especially for the young (16-18 years) and older (50+) generation.

These inexpensive, energy-efficient and comfortable electric two-wheelers are intended to provide drivers of conventional vehicles with a usable and environmentally friendly alternative with a reduced footprint for their daily commuting.

This project is supported with funds from the Climate and Energy Fund
Start: 1. March 2020
End: 28. February 2023
Budget: 6.3 Mio. €
https://www.ait.ac.at/themen/propulsion-technologies/projects/emotion/

Being involved in a car accident is an experience you wouldn't wish on anyone. While the physical injuries are usually treated comprehensively, the psychological consequences of the accident often remain unrecognized. Months or even years later, many people still suffer from the memory of the shocking moment. It is still largely unclear how the experience of the accident affects mental well-being and everyday driving in the months following the experience.

For this reason, the German Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) commissioned the WIVW, together with the University of Würzburg, to conduct a study to answer these unanswered questions. The results will be used to improve support services for accident victims.

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute
Funding reference FE-No. 82.0734/2019
Partner: Hochschulambulanz für Psychotherapie der Universität Würzburg
Start: 1. Januar 2020
End: 31. Dezember 2022

In Germany, it is the intended key role of the family doctor to inform and sensitise the patients about individual age-related driving-relevant changes and to develop specific compensation strategies together with the patient. The aim of the present project was a detailed inventory of the quantity and the quality of medical traffic safety consultation. For this, an online-interview with 130 family doctors has been conducted.

All participants agree that traffic consultation by the family doctor is needed. However, for most of the participants, traffic safety consultation has not been part of their professional education so far. The participants complain about a lack of suitable training and education offers. The main problems with which the participants are confronted during traffic safety consultation are specific knowledge gaps (legal frame, traffic medical expertise) as well as lack of time. Furthermore, some participants are worried to endanger the good relationship to their patients. Most of the participants mainly regard it as their task to inform about a possibly impaired driving fitness due to distinct driving-relevant symptoms or about possibly impaired driving safety due to medication causing driving-relevant side effects. It is highly questionable if the concept of a detailed conversation in response to specific needs may be integrated in the daily business of a family doctor as a prevention method based on individual needs. Up to now, to implement this concept, temporal and financial resources as well as an adequate education are missing.

For further research on traffic safety consultation by family doctors, the authors recommend to cooperate with medical expert associations or institutes of general practice at the German universities. At these institutes, the family doctors of tomorrow are educated and the curricula of the medical degree program developed. There are promising possibilities to coordinate and implement nationwide projects.

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute
Funding reference FE 82.0620/2014
Partner: Dr. Dieter Geis, Randersacker, Vorsitzender Bayer. Hausärzteverband
Start: 1. Januar 2018
End: 31. Dezember 2019
Budget: 119.916 €

Many safety-related research questions in the passenger car sector are already being investigated by using driving simulators. In addition, there are many studies that address the transferability of the results gained in car-simulators to real road traffic. In contrast, the use of motorcycle simulators is in a rather early stage. Nevertheless, large experience in the passenger car domain has shown that driving simulators can make a significant contribution to road safety. This potential has yet to be shown for motorcycle simulators.

Motorcycle simulators for research and development purposes with a complex technical structure are available in very few research institutions. There are hardly any scientific studies on the applicability or transferability of the achieved results. In addition, it has not been clarified which configuration level of motorcycle simulation is necessary to investigate specific research questions. This is a large deficit of motorcycle simulators, especially when todays high counts of heavy and fatal accidents of motorcyclists demand for innovative solutions in accident prevention and severity mitigation. Performing safety-relevant studies on motorcycle simulators could – just like in the car domain – become an important and harmfree tool to efficiently investigate e.g. intervening assistance systems like autonomous emergency braking or evasion systems. Also, rider trainings in a totally riskfree environment might be a welcome usecase to generate a positive effect on the safety of real road riding.

Accordingly, two goals were set for the present project. Firstly, knowledge about the potential applications of motorcycle simulators of different configuration levels has to be gained. This should result in a best practice that helps the simulator users to decide, which investigation allows for the use of motorcycle simulators of certain configurations. Secondly, the project aims at developing a novel method for the validation of motorcycle simulators. This method should allow justified assessments of motorcycle simulator validity, regarding the potential applications mentioned above, with a defined number of investigations

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute
Funding reference FE-No. 82.0734/2019
Partner: FZD TU Darmstadt
Start: 1. January 2018
End: 30. Jun 2020
Budget: 244.740 €

Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) for Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) are lacking behind the corresponding assistance systems of the passenger car sector. A successful market introduction of such ARAS depends on various variables such as PTW-rider coupling, stabilization of the single-track vehicle, acceptance by the riders or appropriate sensors, actors, controls etc. on the more technical side. Within the scope of the project VIR2AL a dynamic motorcycle riding simulator shall be developed that is able to deal with the challenges mentioned above. Special focus lies on vehicle-rider interaction and rider input devices.

This shall allow the investigation of controllability and user acceptance (human factors) in a safe and controllable virtual environment. More technically oriented research questions shall be enabled through HIL-/MIL-/SIL integration and corresponding riding dynamics models as well as rider input- and feedback models. Innovative components will be polymodal road surface simulation, a bio kinematic offline rider model, a modular motion platform concept and multi-sensory motion cueing.

Funded by the Federal Ministery of Economic Affairs and Energy
Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand ZF4476001PO7
Partner: TU Darmstadt, FZD & vi-grade
Start: 1. September 2017
End: 31. August 2019
Budget: 520.000 €

L3Pilot – Automated driving testing on European roads: Europe’s automotive industry has joined forces with research institutions and other stakeholders to test and evaluate automated in-vehicle technologies in real traffic in eleven European countries, including cross-border driving. L3Pilot, a four-year project, started September 13th 2017 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Led by Volkswagen AG and co-funded by the European Commission the project partners will demonstrate their commitment to meeting the challenges of new and higher demands for mobility. Examining the technologies in testing vehicles will prepare the partners for large-scale field tests in series cars that will follow the L3Pilot project.

The technologies being tested cover a wide range of driving situations, including parking, overtaking on highways, and driving through urban intersections. The functionality of the automated systems is exposed to the variable conditions of everyday traffic, with about 100 vehicles and 1,000 drivers. These tests will provide valuable data for evaluating the technical aspects and overall impact on traffic and society. L3Pilot is particularly concerned with user's perspectives on automated driving, studying user acceptance and their driving and travel behaviours.

Co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 723051
Start: 1. September 2017
End: 31. August 2021
Budget: 68 Mio. €
www.l3pilot.eu

The aim of the present project is the development and validation of a test environment in a driving simulator for the assessment of driving ability in patients suffering from daytime sleepiness. A monotonous driving test course was developed that is hard to complete especially for people diagnosed with daytime sleepiness. In order to validate the course, a total of 30 patients suffering from daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea and a control group consisting of 10 control subjects drove through this course. Additionally they drove through a test course in real traffic which was designed to match the same criteria as the course in the driving simulation. Before, during and after the trial in the driving simulator, the patients reported significantly more sleepiness than the control group.

Descriptive data showed a difference between patients and controls with respect to various driving ability parameters. Thereby, speeding and tailgating were typical driving errors of control subjects while patients tended to driving errors which are associated with sleepiness like bad lane keeping and lane departures. In contrast to this, even descriptively, no difference between patients and control subjects was found in real traffic. An explanation could be that the driving course in real traffic was perceived as an exam situation. Therefore, patients were excited and this excitement masked their sleepiness.

Accordingly, patients were not sleepier than the control subjects neither before the drive nor after it. It can be concluded that the driving simulator seems to be better suited to distinguish between patients and control subjects in terms of daytime sleepiness. However, the relevance and implications for driving safety cannot be proven with the available data. It seems that driving in real traffic is very similar to a driving test so that sleepiness is masked by agitation. So it should be scrutinised if driving tests in real traffic are capable of providing the necessary ground truth regarding driving ability of patients suffering from daytime sleepiness.

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute
Funding reference FE82.0667/2016
Partner: Dr. Bernhard Roth, Facharzt für HNO-Heilkunde, Allergologie, plastische Operationen, Schlafmedizin
Start: 1. Januar 2017
End: 31. Dezember 2018
Budget: 179.892 €

Evaluated training measures for the improvement of driving competency of elderly drivers lead to considerable improvement in driving performance. However, conducting such trainings is both very timeconsuming and costly making its nationwide implementation difficult. Thus, the aim of the present project was to develop and evaluate a modular training program for elderly drivers, which is easy, lowcost and time efficient.

Based on a personalized profile including driving related performance deficits and the individual need for mobility of the elderly driver, a personalized training schedule is compiled. It includes specific driving exercises, group sessions to refresh knowledge of traffic rules, as well as consultation and training for the compensation of agerelated restrictions and the use of driver assistance systems. Training sessions in familiar and limited areas are offered for persons who cannot or can no longer safely manage driving in an unknown environment. For the evaluation of the training program, a pre-post-design with N = 30 subjects was realized. The pre-post ratings of driving competency and the subjective ratings (of test subjects, driving instructors and psychologists) were used as criteria for the success of the training.

The driving competency measured through different performance parameters increased through the participation. The driving instructors found the program to be useful and feasible. Participants were very satisfied with the concept of the training and evaluated it as being helpful. Therefore, this training concept seems to be promising for further use beyond the project work. A scientifically accompanied introduction of the training concept to several driving schools, supported by the development of marketing and information campaigns, is recommended.

On behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute
Funding reference FE 82.0650/2016
Partner: Fahrschule Kwiotek Würzburg
Start: 1. Januar 2017
End: 31. Dezember 2018
Budget: 149.512 €

The IMAGinE research project (Intelligent Maneuver Automation – Cooperative Hazard Avoidance in Real Time) is developing innovative assistance systems for the cooperative driving of the future. Cooperative driving means that vehicles will interact with each other and with the infrastructure in real time, planning and executing joint driving maneuvers. This will help to avoid or mitigate critical situations and increase overall traffic safety. Difficult driving situations, such as overtaking maneuvers or merging onto the freeway, can be carried out cooperatively and more safely. To make this vision a reality, the project is expanding existing message protocols and creating the basis for a holistic understanding of the situation and environment. This will enable vehicles to plan, coordinate and execute even complex driving maneuvers in the future. Six typical traffic situations are used to demonstrate how the exchange of information, coordination and joint planning of driving maneuvers will work in the future. Within the project, the WIVW is mainly concerned with the development of new human-machine interfaces to support the driver in cooperative driving.

Funding from federal budget
Start: 1. September 2016
End: 31. May 2022
Budget: 38.2 Mio. €
www.imagine-online.de

It is well known from prior research that the driving competence of seniors can be assessed best by observation of their driving skills in on-road drives. However, the conduction is very costly, hard to standardize and not entirely safe. Therefore a representative driving observation course using a driving simulator will be developed and validated within this research project. To evaluate the simulator’s level of fidelity needed in order to gain valid results regarding driving competence of elderly drivers, minimum requirements concerning the simulation will be elaborated and two different configuration stages will be employed.

In the evaluation study 30 younger and 30 elderly (70+) test drivers will drive the course on both simulators as well as a representative driving course in and around the city of Würzburg. The assessment of the driving performance will be conducted by means of a profile that consists of several driving parameters. The study will be conducted in cooperation with the driving school Kwiotek.

Received fundings from the Federal Highway Research Institute
Förderkennzeichen FE82 0601-2013
Partner: Fahrschule Kwiotek
Start: January, 1st 2016
End: December, 31st 2017
Budget: 150.000 €

After a traffic injury about 50% of the affected people suffer from posttraumatic stress disorders during the following weeks that can lead to persistent amaxophobia. When the affected people attempt to drive despite of their phobia, they often react with physical symptoms. This leads to avoidance of specific situations or driving entirely. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered as the best choice for the treatment of anxiety disorders whereby virtual procedures are increasingly employed. Aim of this pilot study is the development of an virtual exposure therapy for driving simulation and its conclusive evaluation.

It will be crucial for the assessment of the efficacy of the therapy if a final test drive in reality with a driving instructor will be passed with unsuspicious driving behavior. The study will be conducted in cooperation with the Chair of Psychology I of the University of Würzburg and with the assistance of the Medical Study Center Wuerzburg as well as the driving school Kwiotek.

Commissioned by DGUV - Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung
Agreement No. FR232
Partner: University of Würzburg
Start: 1. November 2015
End: 30. April 2017
Budget: 100.545 €

The Ko-HAF project aims to take the next major step towards autonomous driving: highly automated driving at higher speeds. These next-generation systems are characterized by the fact that the driver no longer needs to monitor them constantly. However, the driver must be able to take control of the vehicle within a certain amount of time. While the first generation of Highly Automated Driving (HAD) addresses the lowest and lower speed ranges in simple traffic situations, such as highway congestion, based on autonomous on-board sensors, the second generation, which is the focus of this project, is intended to master the higher speed range on well-developed traffic infrastructures in order to achieve safety, traffic efficiency, and comfort for this traffic area.

Grant from the federal budget
Participation as a subcontractor
Start: 1. Juni 2015
End: 30. November 2018
Budget: 36.3 Mio. €
www.ko-haf.de

The focus of the BMBF-funded project MobilTrain is the promotion and maintenance of driving skills, which is particularly important for elderly drivers in rural areas and for seniors that are still working. To this end, a simulator driving training course is being developed, for which recent technical developments in the field of driving simulation are being implemented and used specifically for the target group of senior citizens. Key features of the training are (a) an adaptive presentation of (b) scenarios known from accident statistics and literature to be challenging for elderly drivers, (c) the use of enhanced reality elements to illustrate learning content, and (d) video-based feedback. For evaluation purposes, a practical driving test in real traffic will be carried out before and after the training with a training group and a control group.

Land of Ideas: The "MobilTrain" project was recognized in the nationwide innovation competition "Landmarks in the Land of Ideas" 2016.

Grant from the federal budget
Section 30, Chapter 3004, Title 68322, financial year 2013
Funding code: 16SV6378
Start: 1. Januar 2014
End: 30. Juni 2015
Budget: 161.274 €

The European research project AdaptIVe aims to achieve major breakthroughs leading to more efficient and safer automated driving. The project targets an ideal interaction between drivers and automated systems by using advanced sensors, cooperative vehicle technologies and integrated strategies. The level of automation dynamically adapts to the situation and driver status. To make automated driving a reality, AdaptIVe will not only address technological and ergonomic aspects, but also important legal issues that might impact successful market introduction.

Received fundings from the European Community 7th Framework
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 610428
Start: Januar, 1st 2014
End: June, 30th 2017
Budget: 25 Mio. €
www.adaptive-ip.eu

The DESMORI project wants to build up a research and development infrastructure for motorcycle – rider interaction. As rider assistance and information systems become more popular, the effects of different instrument and operation concepts as well as Human-Machine-Interfaces need to be assessed. One main project target is therefore to construct a dynamic motorcycle simulator as a safe and controllable research tool. Additionally, a special rider training as well as relevant test tracks will be developed. This holistic approach shall enhance the research towards higher Powered-Two Wheeler safety.

Funded by the Federal Ministery of Economic Affairs and Energy
Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand No. KF2012453 RP3
Partner: TU Darmstadt, FZD & BMW Motorcycles
Start: 1. Januar 2014
End: 31. Dezember 2015
Budget: 520.000 €

31 partners from the automotive and supplier industry, electronics, communication and software companies, universities, research institutes and cities have joined forces in the UR:BAN project to develop driver assistance and traffic management systems for the city. Special attention is given to people in their different roles in the traffic system as drivers, cyclists, pedestrians or traffic planners. The following videos provide information about WIVW's involvement in the project: Project SIM/Simulator and Project KON/Controllability.

Grant from the federal budget
Participation as a subcontractor
Start: 1. April 2012
End: 30. April 2016
Budget: 80 Mio. €

The eFuture project wants to prepare the next generation of electric vehicle based on a first prototype by creating a platform which minimises its energy needs but can still optimise dynamically its decision between safety and energy efficiency. The key issues will be the optimisation of this energy usage and its influence on the vehicle as well as on the driver. As optimising each component separately is not enough, an overall concept is mandatory to look at the interactions between the components. Beside the technical developments, a major aim of the project is to look at the driver who will be confronted with dynamical properties as this energy management will have a high impact on driving.

Received fundings from the European Community 7th Framework
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 258133
Start: October, 1st 2011
End: November, 30th 2013
Budget: 7 Mio. €
www.efuture-eu.org

The guiding visions of society, politics, business and science are "accident-free mobility" and "safety for all". In order to achieve these visions, the Ko-FAS research initiative is investigating technologies, systems, and components that provide road users with a comprehensive picture of the traffic environment, enabling them to detect critical situations at an early stage and take preventive measures to avoid accidents or significantly reduce the consequences of accidents. These technologies are based on the interaction of sensors from different traffic participants and use the latest communication technology to exchange this information.

Grant from the federal budget
Participation as a subcontractor
Start: 1. Januar 2009
End: 30. Juni 2013
Budget: n/a

The mission of HaveIT is to make driving more convenient and enjoyable by a driver centric, context sensitive automation (both in monotonous and tedious driving situations and in complex driving environment like roadworks), thereby increasing traffic safety. The main objective is the improvement of safety and environment by highly automated vehicle applications supporting the driver in over- and underload situations built on the joint system driver – co-system selecting the appropriate degree of automation depending on driving situation and driver state, and the safe vehicle architecture with migration concept supporting also by-wire-applications.

Received fundings from the European Community 7th Framework
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 212154
Start: February, 1st 2008
End: July, 31st 2011
Budget: 28 Mio. €

The TRAIN-ALL project developed a computer-based training system for different land-based driver cohorts, that integrates multimedia software, driving simulator, virtual driving simulator and on-board vehicle sensors, into a single modular platform. The core development focused on driving simulators, with the realisation of several prototypes. New simulation tools have been developed for motorcycle riding, passenger car (both for novices and emergency drivers) and truck driving. The new tools include also virtual reality (VR)-based immersive simulation tools, as well as a common architecture and a modular simulator design process for multi-user group training.

Received fundings from the European Community 6th Framework
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 31517
Start: November, 6th 2006
End: December, 31st 2009
Budget: 3.7 Mio. €

The SPARC project developed a platform that supported the drive-by-wire/ 'Decision Control System' (DCS) and active safety systems. The intelligent software/hardware platform can be changed in scale and applied to both large and small demonstration vehicles.
Drive-by-wire technology was used in the powertrain of both heavy goods vehicles and passenger cars, providing greater efficiency and road safety.

Received fundings from the European Community 6th Framework
Programme under the Grant agreement No. 507859
Start: January, 1st 2004
End: July, 31st 2007
Budget: 12.5 Mio. €
cordis.europa.eu/projects/507859