Petra Weiler
Mobility, Energy and Future Technologies
The future of mobility is autonomous, networked and electric. Automated, interconnected driving will make roads safer, improve the efficiency of traffic flows and facilitate barrier-free mobility that is in step with demand. It will also reduce energy consumption and emissions, especially if electric motors are used.
Automated, interconnected driving will be one of the key fields of innovation in this decade and the decades to come. Today’s new vehicles already feature numerous advanced driver assistance systems, which cover aspects such as parking, keeping in lane and independently activating the emergency brakes in critical situations. Vehicles with automated emergency call systems and access to the Internet are also common.
As digitalisation advances, it facilitates an increasing interconnectedness. This enables vehicles to interact not only with other vehicles, but also with infrastructure elements such as traffic lights and charging points for electric cars. Without digitalised payment and control systems, many of today’s mobility services – such as car sharing or carpooling services – would be unthinkable.
In terms of fully autonomous vehicles, which are already entering the first phase of testing, digitalisation is taking centre stage.
The Challenges
A great deal of research and development work is still required before driverless vehicles can make their way onto our roads. Work is underway on technologies such as environment sensors for recognising complex surroundings, as well as algorithms and architectures for steering. Researchers are also looking at new methods for interacting with vehicle occupants, other road users and infrastructure elements. We also need solutions for guaranteeing the required data security standards. The communication systems will need to send and receive large data quantities while also providing constant protection from third-party misuse and cyberattacks.
The legal framework conditions will also be of critical importance for the introduction and market acceptance of automated driving. The political discourse and ethical discussions regarding these and other issues will continue for a long time and will require an active dialogue that engages all of society.
Advising , Analysing, Organising and Promoting
To ensure that good progress is made in this area, we advise and support our clients regarding almost every aspect of automated driving. We coordinate European projects and organise networks. We support our clients from Germany’s federal and state governments by acting as the project manager for the design and implementation of funding measures and in national committees. Furthermore, we conduct studies and evaluations. The focus of these is on technologies for automating and interconnecting vehicles – especially electric vehicles – and on integrating automated vehicles into our transportation systems.
