Ecoro, TH Köln y RWTH Aachen investigan carriles logísticos virtuales
“The projected increase in freight transport will lead to complete congestion on our roads in the foreseeable future,” warns Professor Achim Kampker, Head of the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen. The ViDeLL project therefore focuses on logistics and the intelligent management of its traffic flows. Specifically, it examines urban last-mile and retail logistics, as well as industrial logistics between production sites located in urban areas.
A look at the project partner Ecoro reveals that the initiative is not solely about conventional trucks or vans. The Munich-based start-up specialises in automated freight transport and has developed an autonomous electric shuttle for goods transport, capable of carrying four pallets with a capacity of 2.4 tonnes at speeds of up to 60 km/h. It resembles AGV vehicles (Automated Guided Vehicles)—driverless, self-driving transport vehicles used for in-house logistics, such as within car factories—but can also be deployed outdoors.
ViDeLL stands for “Virtual Dedicated Logistics Lanes”. The project aims to fundamentally improve the flexibility and efficiency of road space through innovative technologies. One idea involves “intelligent road markings” within an integrated system comprising automated vehicles, infrastructure sensors, and a central control system.
“Flexible virtual solutions using optical components are economically attractive, as they enable efficient use of existing road space and require significantly fewer construction measures than physical lanes for specific vehicle groups,” says Tarik Hadzovic, the project manager at PEM.
The project partners aim to analyse suitable use cases for virtual logistics lanes in urban areas and their surroundings, and to design an overall system that includes the installation of on-site sensors to secure virtual road sections. According to the project managers, such sensor technology is far more cost-effective to implement than equipping the vehicles themselves with sensors. Algorithms for the dynamic allocation and control of virtual logistics lanes based on real-time traffic data will subsequently be developed. Additionally, the researchers plan to investigate the interaction between automated logistics vehicles and other road users, develop a safety concept, and propose solutions for regulatory challenges, as well as recommendations for adjustments to existing regulations.
The project is funded by the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the EU as part of the ERDF Innovation Competition “NeueWege.IN.NRW” and is scheduled to run until 31 December 2028. The consortium leadership for ViDeLL lies with TH Köln, with additional partners including Ecoro, the sensor-specialised supplier ETO from Stockach in Baden-Württemberg, the PEM Chair of RWTH Aachen, and the RWTH spin-off PEM Motion.
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