Campus FreeCity" project launch: a holistic solution to urban traffic problems

Frankfurt am Main, 24 November 2021 - As consortium leader, House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) GmbH is now taking over the overall coordination of the project "Campus FreeCity - Real laboratory for research into a networked fleet of modular robot vehicles", which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The project explores challenges and approaches to solutions for urban traffic, which has been largely uncoordinated to date, on a laboratory scale using "CityBot" vehicles developed by the project initiator EDAG Engineering GmbH. In addition to HOLM GmbH and EDAG Engineering GmbH, the project partners include EintrachtTech GmbH, T-Systems International GmbH, COMPREDICT GmbH, DEKRA Automobil GmbH, Fulda University of Applied Sciences and Darmstadt University of Technology. The official handover of the funding decision took place on 24 November 2021 by Dr Michael Güntner, State Secretary at the BMVI. The project runs until May 2024 and is funded by the BMVI with around 11 million euros as part of the action plan "Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Mobility".

Urban transport is characterised by high traffic density, congestion, local emissions and high land consumption. Its transport potential is neither coordinated nor fully exploited. The interdisciplinary project "Campus FreeCity" explores challenges and approaches to solving inner-city traffic problems by means of two "CityBot" vehicles, which are developed within the project for passenger transport and goods transport and are implemented, operated and scientifically analysed in a real laboratory on the grounds of the Deutsche Bank Park. The laboratory development thereby enables research under realistic conditions into various topics relevant to future mobility and logistics systems, such as networked, automated driving functions, networking and data exchange, human-machine communication, acceptance and trust, integrated order management as well as the identification and realisation of economic and technical optimisation potential in operation.

"This project explores a completely new type of mobility and logistics system and thus makes concrete contributions to the transport turnaround. In the long term, it offers a holistic, sustainable approach to solving inner-city traffic problems," says Michael Kadow, Managing Director of HOLM GmbH, adding: "We are therefore proud to be coordinating this process and driving forward groundbreaking industrial research and development together with our project partners. As a development and networking platform, we also see this project as an opportunity to create awareness for new intelligent and connected mobility concepts."

HOLM GmbH is responsible for the overall project management and acts as the content and organisational interface of the consortium, which consists of eight partners from industry and science.

As part of the project, the EDAG Group will for the first time network two further innovative modular robot vehicles - the so-called "EDAG CityBots". These are two interchangeable transport and conveyance modules. In this way, the globally active development service provider is working out the complex core of the real-lab installation.

"With the 'CityBot' mobility concept developed by EDAG, we have presented a blueprint in 2019 to make urban mobility more connected, efficient and sustainable. Following the unveiling of the first fully automated AI technology carrier in 2020, we are delighted to reach the next milestone for further technical development and practical deployment with the 'Campus FreeCity' project," explains Cosimo De Carlo, CEO of EDAG Group.

EintrachtTech GmbH from Frankfurt am Main is providing a real laboratory on the grounds of the Deutsche Bank Park for the practical testing of the CityBot use cases in the areas of passenger transport and goods transport. Together with the partners, it is also developing the user requirements and underlying user journeys, taking into account scalability in the urban area.

T-Systems International GmbH from Frankfurt am Main is responsible for researching suitable technology approaches as well as process and operational procedures for teleoperation and technical supervision of automated vehicles.

COMPREDICT GmbH from Darmstadt is responsible for the development of AI-based algorithms, so-called virtual sensors, for predicting and avoiding component failures.

Experts from the DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz analyse future requirements for the approval of new mobility concepts, contribute newly gained knowledge to the new and further development of regulations and develop necessary test procedures for safe operation.

Fulda University of Applied Sciences is responsible for supply chain modelling, the topics of IT security and energy-efficient computer structures as well as the development of an interaction concept for intuitive communication with the vehicle.

The Technical University of Darmstadt has an interdisciplinary approach as scientific support in the project and is responsible for the topics of efficiency optimisation, traffic safety and management, human-machine interfaces, ecological assessment and society's acceptance and trust in the "CityBots".

In addition to the consortium, FES Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH has joined the project as an associated project partner to test the use of "CityBots" in waste disposal and cleaning in the city.

About HOLM GmbH
The House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) GmbH operates the independent development and networking platform of logistics and mobility. On behalf of the public sector, HOLM networks business, science, politics and society in order to advance future topics, creativity processes and innovations in the fields of action of the future of logistics and mobility. As a project management organisation and project developer, HOLM actively promotes the economy in the state of Hessen. With its partner network, it develops innovative networking formats and implements forward-looking projects at state, federal and EU level. HOLM strengthens the competitiveness of universities and research institutions, companies and start-ups and thus works to generate business ideas and jobs. At HOLM, experts share their knowledge, drive developments forward together and make them accessible to the public. HOLM GmbH's shareholders are the State of Hesse, the City of Frankfurt and HOLM e. V.

Press contact
Bastian Krampen
Team Leader Communications
T +49 69 240070-225 | M +49 152 51569270 | E bastian.krampen@frankfurt-holm.de