Transform mobility

The research project "KREATÖR"

CAMIL's accompanying scientific research

The route service of CAMIL is scientifically accompanied by the Thüringer Innovationszentrum Mobilität (ThIMo) in the project "KREATÖR – radio and vehicle technologies for automated passenger transport in public spaces" in the sense of a living lab.

The route from the railway station to the campus of the TU Ilmenau becomes a real laboratory or "living lab", as research into new mobility concepts does not only take place on the computer or in the laboratory, but also in real traffic, embedded in a social context. Four research groups of the interdisciplinary institute for mobility research are dedicated to the research and development of innovative radio and vehicle technologies in this project. A fifth research group is concerned with the risk perception and acceptance of the technology among passengers and the media public.

Although highly automated minibuses have already been deployed at other locations in Germany and other European countries (including Gera, Bad Birnbach, Hamburg), this high-level interdisciplinary accompanying research and further development in Ilmenau is an important distinguishing feature.

The project is funded by the Thuringian Ministry for Economy, Science and Digital Society in the funding format "Innovation Potentials" with around two million euros and managed by the Thüringer Aufbaubank.

What is a living lab?

Transport and mobility are undergoing dramatic change – in order to achieve global climate goals, to make our working, living and leisure activities more attractive, to take account of demographic changes, and to offer more safety with increased comfort at the same time.

Such developments demand spaces in which ideas can be developed into innovations ready for application and the market and improved together with users and the interested public. By making the traffic space usable as a living lab, we create such a space.

A space that is shaped cooperatively by science, the public and business. Where interdisciplinary research is conducted, where applications are tested and where benefits and economic perspectives are openly discussed, true to CAMIL's motto: "Mitfahren – Mitteilen – Mitgestalten" which invites you to "take a ride, tell us what you think and transform mobility as we know it".

But why should the Ilm district in particular become a living laboratory – with small towns like Ilmenau or Arnstadt in terms of population? On the one hand, the special challenge lies in the area – the urban area of Ilmenau is similar in size to Hanover or Stuttgart – but with fewer inhabitants, who often live in incorporated small villages. So there is a mix of roads with urban, suburban and rural parts as well as motorways, and all types of traffic and traffic situations occurring there can be studied.

Under the climatic influence of the Thuringian Forest, weather conditions are particularly variable. In addition, forestation and topology are particularly demanding for coverage by new mobile radio standards. Electric drive trains and highly automated vehicle systems that prove themselves here are ripe for application in many other regions.

Due to the open-minded mentality of the population and the association with the university, there are transport companies here that are open to new technologies and involve their employees and customers in the future of public transport. The existing transport mix suggests thinking about intermodal transport interfaces and keeping an eye on the mobility needs of industry, commerce, residents and tourism.

Whether it is electric mobility, automated driving, radio networking or new mobility services – a solution that works in a Thuringian living lab is transferable to many suburban and rural areas in Germany.