The Project
The aim of the enableATO project is to enable modern ideas for automated rail mobility and to investigate them in new rail-based approaches in rural areas. To this end, the necessary technologies and framework conditions must be developed to a point that a demonstration with a fully automated, driverless small rail vehicle such as the MONOCAB is possible.
Initially, work is being carried out on small, new vehicles that run automatically on existing tracks in rural areas. Research and development is primarily focused on technologies that can take over the tasks of train crews. This involves the following:
- The perception of situations while driving, and getting on and off the vehicle, by sensors in order to instigate operations (intelligent control) such as moving off, driving, issuing warnings and stopping.
- Identifying the precise location of vehicles on a route and communication with a control centre to enable integration into operational concepts and implementation of driving requirements.
- Safety measures such as vehicle interior monitoring, assessment of the situation in the vehicle and on the platform, combined with the ability to communicate with a control centre and taking into account safety requirements.
- Enabling intelligent, predictive maintenance through early detection of system changes in the vehicle, combined with digital twins.
- The integration of technical solutions into vehicles such as the MONOCAB or the two-way vehicle, in order to be able to test and demonstrate the basic technologies and concepts developed as part of the project in Minden and Extertal.
In addition to the purely technical aspects, other topics are also examined:
- The development of framework conditions in order to obtain approval for the above approaches and make them legally possible.
- User acceptance. Scientific dialogues with the wider community are established.
- Possibilities for linking other modes of transport to the rail system, such as connecting small electric vehicles to the rail system.
Duration: Jan 01, 2024 – Dec 31, 2026
Funding: €12.5 m
The complete enableATO project consists of 5 sub-projects
The aim of the enableATO project is to enable modern ideas for automated rail mobility and to investigate them in new rail-based approaches in rural areas. The complete project is divided into 5 sub-projects:
- ATO enabler technologies
- Regulatory framework
- Concept demonstration
- User acceptance and scientific dialogue
- Project management, administration and DZM networking
Partners of the enableATO project
The project consortium consists of renowned partners. Together, they bring extensive expertise and many years of experience to advance the vision of sustainable, connected and automated mobility in rural areas.
At CITEC, Bielefeld University brings together interdisciplinary basic research on cognitive interaction technology, as required for the development of intuitively operable technical systems. As the CITEC innovation laboratory for human-centred automation, the CoR-Lab uses these findings and methods together with external industrial partners to develop application-oriented cognitive systems and align machine learning with them.
Wölfel Engineering GmbH + Co KG is a technology-oriented, medium-sized engineering company providing engineering services and systems in the field of monitoring and vibration reduction with core competences in vibration management, acoustics and structural mechanics. In the enableATO project, Wölfel Engineering analyses condition and performance indicators based on vibration measurement data in order to enable continuous monitoring and condition-based maintenance of rail vehicles. This expertise contributes to increased operational safety and cost reduction.
Paderborn University is one of the medium-sized universities in Germany with a strong research and transfer programme. Scientists here work on the technologies of the future, always with an eye to the needs of society. Research at Paderborn University is characterised by the development of sustainable solutions for the pressing challenges of our time.
The HARTING Technology Group is a leading global supplier of industrial connection technology. The company focuses on the three lifelines of an electrified, digital world: data, signal and power.
Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) contributes extensive knowledge and experience in the transfer of research results into practice. The Institute of System Dynamics and Mechatronics (ISyM) has the expertise to implement intelligent systems as technical artefacts in the form of prototypes and thus make them available for commercial use by companies.
Pilz GmbH & Co. KG – a leading global supplier of components, systems and services under the motto ‘The Spirit of Safety’ – provides a platform for safe railway applications worldwide with the PSSrail.
The Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL) is contributing its proven expertise in automated driving, safety and security, vehicle and system development (MONOCAB), and scientific dialogue to this project.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Design Technology – IEM offers expertise in intelligent mechatronics in the context of Industry 4.0, with core competences in intelligence in mechatronic systems, systems engineering and software engineering, virtual prototyping and simulation, industrial data science and control technology.
As Europe’s largest competence centre for railway technology, DB Systemtechnik provides engineering and testing services for the entire railway industry. Around 1,100 employees work in Germany and around the world to shape tomorrow’s rail transport with technical and digital railway expertise.
Fraunhofer IOSB-INA is contributing its expertise in the field of machine safety and approval/assessment of new technologies to the project. A safety concept for automated/autonomous driving will be developed and this will include functional safety aspects. Furthermore, the framework conditions for approval in combination with the MONOCAB concept demonstrator will be analysed and preparations for the approval process will be undertaken.
The RailCampus OWL in Minden is a place for research, development and knowledge transfer as well as for study and further education with a focus on rail-based mobility. The RailCampus is the contact point for the entire enableATO project.