Marco Münster’s research while affiliated with German Aerospace Center (DLR) and other places

As part of the European project SHOW (GA No 875530), 3 types of innovative automated vehicles, i.e., a U-Shift, a modular vehicle with an interchangeable capsule, a free-moving FZI-shuttle and a VIF-robotaxi, were deployed at 3 sites in Germany and Austria. Two of the vehicles provided both passenger and cargo transport services. The piloting period varied from 7 to 13 months. In total, all automated vehicles travelled 30,000 km and transported 14,000 people. No critical failures occurred. Passengers’ enthusiasm and high acceptance of AVs are noteworthy. Further technical challenges still need to be addressed, particularly regarding interaction with other road users, to achieve fully automated operation.

At the Institute of Vehicle Concepts of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the concept idea of a new, modular, fully automated transport system was developed. The U-shaped drive module of the so-called U-Shift allows different capsules to be picked up as load carriers during operation without requiring additional infrastructure. The concept and the project landscape developed in cooperation with other partners are described in the following.

Am Institut für Fahrzeugkonzepte des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) wurde die Studie eines neuen, modular aufgebauten vollautomatisierten Transportsystems entwickelt. Das U-förmige Fahrmodul des sogenannten U-Shift ermöglicht die Aufnahme unterschiedlicher Kapseln als Ladungsträger im laufenden Betrieb, ohne für den Wechsel zusätzliche Infrastruktur zu benötigen. Im Folgenden werden das Konzept und die in Kooperation mit anderen Partnern entwickelte Projektlandschaft beschrieben.

Für die Mobilität der Zukunft werden in der Veröffentlichung zwei neuartige Fahrzeugkonzepte Urban Modular Vehicle UMV und U-Shift vorgestellt. Das UMV bietet einen hochmodularen Baukasten für unterschiedlichste elektrifizierte und automatisierte Derivate von Stadtfahrzeugen vom UMV Basic, über Long zu Cargomover als automatisierter Mover für Güter, Personen-Movern oder Skateboard Derivaten. Der Schwerpunkt in der Veröffentlichung liegt bei dem neuen UMV Duomover 5 + 2. Das Fahrzeug-Derivat besticht durch seinen hochmodularen Innenraum. Die Idee beim UMV Duomover Platz für Fahrgäste auch mit Rollstuhl zu generieren, aber auch Güter unterschiedlichster Form (Gitterrollwägen, Europaletten oder Euroboxen) mit und oder Personen zu Transportieren. Das Fahrzeugkonzept U-Shift ist ein spezielles Modular On The Road Fahrzeugkonzept. U-Shift hat die Besonderheit das es aus unterschiedlichen Aufbauten, den sogenannten Kapseln und einer einheitlichen Fahreinheit dem Driveboard besteht. Das Driveboard fährt elektrisch und automatisiert. Das Driveboard beinhaltet des Weiteren eine Hubeinheit die das Kapselwechseln ohne Infrastruktur praktisch an jeder Stelle möglich macht. Die Kapseln können unterschiedlichste Use-Cases dienen. Die ersten prototypisch verwirklichten Varianten sind eine Personenkapsel für den öffentlichen Personennahverkehr, mit 8 Sitzen und Platz für Rollstuhlfahrerinnen. Die zweite Kapselvariante ist eine Cargokapsel mit Platz für 4 Europaletten mit einer Zuladung von 2000 kg. Es gibt mehrere U-Shift Projekte mit unterschiedlichen Entwicklungszielen. U-Shift I 2019 bis 2020 erster realer Prototyp. U-Shift II 2020 bis 2024 Fahrbarer Prototyp mit fahrerlosem Fahren mit neuem Fahrwerk, EE-Architektur, Fahrzeugstruktur und Dialog zum Konzept mit Bürgerbeteiligung. U-Shift III 2020 bis 2022 Fahrbarer Prototyp mit hohen Leistungsdaten für Remote Control. U-Shift IV 2022 bis 2025 Fahrbarer Prototyp mit Automatisierung mit besseren Leistungsdaten für den Reallaborbetrieb.

The driverless and electrically powered vehicle concept U-Shift enables a new type of flexibility and efficiency for the mobility of tomorrow by separating the drive unit (driveboard) and transport capsule. In combination with various capsule types, the driveboard is used to transport both people and goods. In a first step, a rollable Mock-up was built (U-Shift I project). The development of another prototype with extended functions for driverless driving (U-Shift II project) is described in this article. Automation – implementation of driverless operation based on sensor modules in the driveboard, supported by sensors in capsules and infrastructure. Chassis – integration of a lifting unit for flexible and quick capsule changes as well as a compact design of the wheel suspension. Drive train – design and implementation of a compact drive concept with wheel hub motors and a modular traction battery in connection with holistic energy and thermal management. Electrics/Electronics Architecture – Conception of a service-oriented architecture with distributed services in the driveboard, capsule and infrastructure. Vehicle structure – optimization of the load distribution in the driveboard and the capsules, as well as secure locking of the capsules on the vehicle. Citizen Participation – Dialogue on the Concept.KeywordsU-ShiftModular Vehicle ConceptOn the Road ModularityAutonomous DrivingService-oriented ArchitectureE-MobilityChassisPowertrainCitizen Participation

By separating the drive unit (driveboard) and the transport capsule, the driverless and electrically driven vehicle concept U-Shift enables a new kind of flexibility and efficiency for the mobility of tomorrow. In combination with various types of capsules, the driveboard is used to transport both people or goods. The capsules can be changed quickly, drives quietly, without the need for operators and without being tied to changing stations. Special capsules enable a wide variety of business models and applications - from barrier-free on-demand buses to parcel delivery services. Cost and resource efficiency are key development goals, which is why expensive systems such as the complex technology for driverless driving are primarily housed in the driveboard. In a first step, a rollable prototype was built. Development of a further prototype with extended functions for driverless driving has already begun. We present our vehicle concept U-Shift with the special features to the different vehicle technologies. The partners of the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts in the U-Shift project include the Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS), which is developing the powertrain, the Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST) and the Institute of Information Processing Technology (ITIV) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which are contributing the chassis and the electrical/electronic architecture, respectively. The Institute for Measurement, Control and Microtechnology (MRM) at the University of Ulm is responsible for the automation.

By separating the drive unit (driveboard) and the transport capsule, the driverless and electrically driven vehicle concept U-Shift enables a new kind of flexibility and efficiency for the mobility of tomorrow. In combination with various types of capsules, the driveboard is used to transport both people or goods. The capsules can be changed quickly, drives quietly, without the need for operators and without being tied to changing stations. Special capsules enable a wide variety of business models and applications - from barrier-free on-demand buses to parcel delivery services. Cost and resource efficiency are key development goals, which is why expensive systems such as the complex technology for driverless driving are primarily housed in the driveboard. In a first step, a rollable prototype was built. Development of a further prototype with extended functions for driverless driving has already begun. We present our vehicle concept U-Shift with the special features to the different vehicle technologies. The partners of the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts in the U-Shift project include the Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS), which is developing the powertrain, the Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST) and the Institute of Information Processing Technology (ITIV) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which are contributing the chassis and the electrical/electronic architecture, respectively. The Institute for Measurement, Control and Microtechnology (MRM) at the University of Ulm is responsible for the automation.