Test Bed Lower Saxony for automated and connected mobility

The route of the Test Bed Lower Saxony.
©DLR The map shows the route of the Test Bed Lower Saxony with the corresponding modules.


 

Automated and connected vehicles can contribute towards a decongestion of road traffic, a reduction in the number of accidents, and an increase in comfort within the vehicle. As a result, the energy efficiency of transport is improved and negative environmental impacts are reduced.

Open research and development platform

In the development of automated and connected vehicles, powerful and flexible test infrastructures are an important tool. For this purpose, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is constructing the Test Bed Lower Saxony, which is funded by the  Niedersächsischen Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit, Verkehr und Digitalisierung (Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labour, Transport and Digitisation) and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture) with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of Lower Saxony. Support is provided by the following project participants: ADAC Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V., Continental AG, IAV GmbH, NordSys GmbH, Oecon Products & Services GmbH, Siemens AG, Volkswagen AG and Wolfsburg AG. An open research and development platform is being created, enabling a unique and comprehensive combination of different test and trial possibilities to be offered - from simulation through to routes in public spaces. The development of the infrastructure for the project Test Bed Lower Saxony and the digitisation of the road network were realised with funds from, among others, the European Regional Development Fund and the States of Lower Saxony.

Urban-rural motorway

The Test Bed Lower Saxony encompasses sections of the A2, A7, A39 and A391 motorways as well as parts of the federal and state roads B3, B6, B243 and L295. Furthermore, it also integrates the established routes of the Application Platform for Intelligent Mobility (AIM), which is in operation in the Braunschweig city centre. This enables testing in differing traffic situations and in the transition between different types of road. Once completed, the Test Bed Lower Saxony will cover a total of more than 280 kilometres, with sectors containing the most diverse forms of technical equipment.

Integral tool chain

The tools of the Test Bed Lower Saxony offer various simulations which also enable, in particular, hardware-in-the-loop/software-in-the-loop, driver-in-the-loop and vehicle-in-the-loop investigations. Via the test site and traffic trials under real conditions, the tool chain extends into the public domain. The individual elements of the tool chain can be used in an integrated way, for example to optimally combine the respective advantages of synthetic and real environments in tests.

High-precision acquisition technology

The high-precision acquisition technology of the test bed detects all vehicle positions with high precision and thereby provides the exact traffic situation - in terms of ground truth - for analysis and live services. A live service emulates, for example, position signals which would be known and searched for if every vehicle were equipped with Car2X technology. Corresponding messages are generated by the test bed. More information concerning the unique communication and acquisition technology as well as all other services offered can be found here.

For whom is this interesting?

  • Project participants from industry and science who develop and/or produce sensors for automated vehicles
  • Project participants from industry and science who work on automated and connected driving functions.
  • Project participants from industry and science who develop novel technology modules in vehicles and the transport infrastructure
  • Scientific institutions conducting research on the topic of automated and connected mobility
  • Politics and associations who would like to obtain information on the topic of automated and connected driving