The Thuringian Mobility Innovation Center at the Technical University of Ilmenau has launched a large-scale research consortium project that promises greater safety for autonomous driving on roads and rail in complex environments. In the CONTROL project, 24 partners from research and industry, led by Siemens AG and Valeo Switches and Sensors GmbH, will develop innovative methods for safe driving of autonomous vehicles in the dynamic overall systems of road and rail. The costs of the three-year project, amounting to 30 million euros, are funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy with 16 million euros.
Autonomous driving as the key to the mobility of the future
Autonomous driving is considered a key technology for tomorrow’s mobility. It is intended to provide greater safety, efficiency, and comfort while reducing emissions. Especially in public passenger transport, new possibilities arise through automated people movers and driverless trains. However, current systems reach their limits in complex traffic situations – this is where CONTROL comes in.
CONTROL: Security for autonomous vehicles on road and rail
The research project CONTROL develops solutions for autonomous driving in complex environments. The goal is to enable vehicles to act safely even during Long-Tail events such as sudden obstacles, changing weather conditions, or limited visibility. To this end, vehicles capture and evaluate uncertainties in real-time and initiate automatic safety measures as needed. The practical applicability is verified in simulations and real-world tests.
Thuringian Mobility Innovation Center as a Technology Driver
The Thuringian Mobility Innovation Center (ThIMo) plays a central role in the CONTROL project. Its experts develop test methods that combine real driving tests with simulations. The “over-the-air vehicle-in-the-loop” method closes the testing chain between real and virtual environments – a globally recognized approach for safe sensor development.
Research for safe mobility in Thuringia and beyond
Professor Matthias Hein, Director of ThIMo, emphasizes: “The CONTROL project lays the technological groundwork for safe autonomous systems that will fundamentally change mobility.” In addition to new standards, the project aims to strengthen the international competitiveness of the German industry and pave the way for new applications in robotics and industrial automation.
