Bremen on the way to the future: autonomous minibuses and smart traffic lights!

Bremen on the way to the future: autonomous minibuses and smart traffic lights!

Today in the Bremen Technology Park: Autonomous minibuses and smart traffic lights

Something is happening in the Bremen Technology Park! The “Safety Control Center” project was successfully completed there, making the future of public transport more tangible than ever before. Mitja Echim, managing director of the start-up Topas, observes what is happening between modern monitors that monitor the status of autonomous minibuses. Topas' focus is on optimized, assisted and autonomous systems that are intended to make traffic smoother and safer. The technology has its origins in a collaboration with the German Aerospace Institute (DLR), where research was carried out on autonomous rovers for Mars. The idea of ​​using these technologies for the Earth arose back in 2016.

But what exactly does this mean for commuters and passengers in Bremen? The innovative minibus shuttles are designed to bring people efficiently to public transport stops. You benefit from the newly developed infrastructure, which not only improves traffic flow, but is also intended to help reduce the number of traffic deaths. However, the challenges should not be underestimated: the autonomous vehicles must be able to recognize complex traffic situations and human behavior. Real-time information from sensors is cleverly linked to maps to enable safe driving decisions.

Networked traffic lights: One step ahead

A milestone in this project is the introduction of Bremen's first five traffic lights that can communicate directly with the autonomous shuttles. These modern traffic lights use so-called V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology, which means they transmit information to vehicles while monitoring their status. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection supports this pioneering project, which is not only important for autonomous shuttles, but also involves all road users in the region. Tim Campen, head of transport technology at the Bremen state authority, emphasizes how important this is for future mobility.

By connecting vehicles and infrastructure, traffic data can be received and used in real time. This not only reduces energy and fuel consumption, but also increases road safety. A prototype of the security control center in Bremen, which is connected to an autonomous shuttle bus, makes this possible. Professor Büskens from the University of Bremen emphasizes that such developments can be tested under real conditions and further improved.

A look into the future

The long road to fully autonomous vehicles has not yet been taken, but the steps being taken today show promising approaches. The algorithms developed for decision making also learn in driving simulations, as practical testing is limited. While the process of comparable safety between autonomous vehicles and human drivers is complex, there is great potential in the direction of future mobility.

In addition, cybersecurity measures are also essential because the communicating systems must be protected from manipulation or technical failures. Encrypted communication between vehicles and the control center is therefore of central importance for user trust in these new traffic concepts.

The developments in Bremen could be a flagship project for other cities and show that Germany is ready not only to keep up in the field of autonomous driving, but also to become a pioneer. The state-of-the-art technologies being tested here could soon be used in other regions, making the vision of intelligent mobility a reality.

For all technology enthusiasts and interested citizens who want to learn more about these fascinating advances, the comprehensive reports from Weser courier as well as University of Bremen and BSI informative and insightful.