Innovative Technologies Transforming Mobility in Germany: Unveiling Five Unexpected Approaches
Germany is leading the way in the integration of autonomous vehicles and drones into its urban landscapes. The test phase for Scan-Autos, a system designed for traffic monitoring, began in Heidelberg on September 18th, 2022, with plans to expand the role of autonomous electric cars, particularly in rural or small-town areas with limited public transport options.
In Heidelberg, Scan-Autos can inspect up to 1,000 cars per hour, a significant increase from the approximately 50 cars inspected by human inspectors. The system is designed to delete images of legally parked cars immediately, while images of pedestrians are automatically blurred to ensure privacy. It is important to note that no fines are being issued based solely on Scan-Auto data during the test phase.
Heidelberg is not the only city in Baden-Württemberg embracing this technology. Mannheim, Freiburg, and Waldshut-Tiengen also plan to introduce Scan-Autos soon. The cities aim to use these cars for more efficient traffic enforcement and improved safety.
Meanwhile, in the town of Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia, self-driving electric buses are being trialled as part of the European ULTIMO project. The electric shuttle bus can drive autonomously at speeds up to 40 km/h and plans to increase to at least 50 km/h. The bus is developed by Austrian manufacturer eVersum with autonomous driving technology from German tech group ZF.
The initiative in Herford is not limited to buses. Drones are already in operation, transporting medical goods and food for local businesses in a Berlin pilot project. The drone project, coordinated by U-Space Berlin, is being conducted in industrial parts of Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
Berlin is also home to a new system called VeloFlow, which displays real-time traffic light forecasts to cyclists, aiming to improve safety and efficiency for cyclists in the city.
Looking ahead, Germany plans to introduce self-driving 'robotaxis' on public roads starting in 2026. American ride-hailing giant Lyft and China's leading artificial intelligence and autonomous car company, Baidu, aim to begin robotaxi services in Germany in 2026.
Germany's efforts in autonomous cars and drones are not going unnoticed. The country ranked third overall for logistics and fifth for hi-tech manufacturing in a recent international study, reflecting its commitment to innovation and progress in these areas.
As these technologies continue to develop and expand, it is clear that Germany is at the forefront of the autonomous car and drone revolution, setting a strong example for other countries to follow.
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