Autonomous Driving

Key Question

Can driverless on-demand shuttles encourage more people to use public transportation?

How do we test this?

We are deploying on-demand autonomous vehicles in urban fringe areas to better connect districts to existing public transportation.

Starting Point

The Hamburg district of Bergedorf offers ideal conditions for testing autonomous driving. The suburb in Hamburg’s catchment area is already very well connected to public transportation. Driverless vehicles will close gaps in the transportation network between the place of residence and the next public transportation stop.

Approach

The field test with the shuttle prototypes in Bergedorf will take place from September to November 2021. The vehicles offer space for up to twelve passengers and a VHH vehicle attendant. The latter monitors the automated journey and can intervene if necessary.

The shuttles can be booked via an app. The route of the vehicles is based on the desired starting points and destinations of the passengers and does not follow a fixed course. Passengers can ride in the shuttles free of charge during the trial operation.

The DEKRA Technology Center accompanies the approval process of the vehicles with independent expertise and ensures the safety of the passengers.

Process

Hardware Setup

The final hardware setup is functionally integrated in vehicle one and the final registration begins. The connection to the VHH control center is established and the setup of vehicles two and three begins.

Completion of Vehicle Construction

Completion of the setup of all vehicles and start of the "on-demand" tests and approval of the route areas in Hamburg.

Start of autonomous shuttles

Commissioning of vehicles and services for passengers. Start of the three-month operation in Hamburg.

January 2021

May 2021

August 2021

Objective

The central objective of the project is to test autonomous shuttles in local public transport and to assess their impact. In addition, it is to be investigated to what extent such autonomous shuttles influence the behavior of citizens in the use of public transport in urban peripheral areas.

The Team

Dr. Andree Hohm

Head of Autonomous Driving Program Continental