U-Shift at the Bundesgartenschau (BUGA) 2023 -Research operation starts at the Federal Horticultural Show in Mannheim
At the Federal Horticultural Show BUGA 23 in Mannheim, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is making urban mobility of the future a tangible experience today. For six months - from mid-April to mid-October 2023 - the futuristic vehicle concept U-Shift will be on the road at the Federal Horticultural Show. The team from the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts will show and explain to visitors how the U-Shift is emission-free, automated, safe and quiet. Another feature is the vehicle's special flexibility: it can transport people and goods. This is made possible by special capsules that can be easily exchanged. As part of the research operation - with prior registration - it is also possible to join in and ride along. The feedback from the passengers will then flow into research and further development of the prototype and corresponding business models.
Experiencing the future of mobility: U-Shift and DLR pavilion at BUGA 23
At the start of BUGA 23 on 14 April 2023, Baden-Württemberg's Minister President Winfried Kretschmann opened the DLR pavilion (BUGA site plan number 88). The generously designed pavilion, made of sustainable, recycled materials, is part of the experimental field and is located in the northern area of Spinelli Park. It is the location and starting point for all activities around the U-Shift. Two prototypes have their home there: one of them is in research operation on a specially equipped test track on the BUGA 23 site. The other is in use at the DLR pavilion and demonstrates how the capsules are changed.
"BUGA 23 is a unique opportunity for DLR to present technologies for environmental and climate protection as well as the mobility of tomorrow. DLR has realised the innovative U-Shift vehicle concept at the DLR site in Stuttgart with participants and support from Baden-Württemberg. Many thanks at this point for this good cooperation. Now we are taking a further step and testing the future of our urban mobility together with the people at the BUGA. This is how we show how modern science works and bring technology into application," explained Prof. Karsten Lemmer, member of the DLR Executive Board and responsible for innovation, transfer and scientific infrastructures.
"BUGA 23 is a unique opportunity for DLR to present technologies for environmental and climate protection as well as the mobility of tomorrow. DLR has realised the innovative U-Shift vehicle concept at the DLR site in Stuttgart with participants and support from Baden-Württemberg. Many thanks at this point for this good cooperation. Now we are taking a further step and testing the future of our urban mobility together with the people at the BUGA. This is how we show how modern science works and bring technology into application," explained Prof. Karsten Lemmer, member of the DLR Executive Board and responsible for innovation, transfer and scientific infrastructures.
Minister President Winfried Kretschmann said: "In order to meet the great challenges of our time, such as climate change and the associated future mobility, we need new ideas and clever solutions. With the U-Shift, research and industry have jointly developed a highly innovative vehicle concept in Baden-Württemberg. It is also a showcase project from the Strategic Dialogue on the Automotive Industry, with which we are supporting the transformation process that is currently taking place. I am convinced that U-Shift can become a lighthouse project for sustainable urban mobility.
Solving mobility requirements cleverly, efficiently and sustainably
With concepts such as U-Shift, DLR is working to reshape the world of urban mobility and logistics. To this end, U-Shift consists of two components: The high-tech for driving is located in the U-shaped driveboard. This autonomously driving vehicle takes different transport capsules to carry people or goods. In this way, it enables intelligent, demand-oriented and resource-saving mobility. Due to its flexibility, it can be used, for example, as an on-demand shuttle, a high-tech call bus, a flexible distribution centre for goods and parcels or a mobile sales outlet.
"The U-Shift project links future technologies with future topics: These include emission-free drives, autonomous driving, digitalisation and new approaches to smart, demand-oriented and economical mobility," describes Prof. Tjark Siefkes, Director of the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts. The research operation on the BUGA site offers the scientific team the unique opportunity to test the U-Shift in a regulated area and manageable conditions. A further step on the way to the first drives in real city traffic and series production.
DLR is planning an important milestone for the summer: then the U-Shift will be on the road for the first time in fully automated operation between people at the BUGA. Until then, the vehicle will be controlled by joystick or remote control.
"We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the 2023 Federal Horticultural Show in Mannheim. With the U-Shift, we offer research to experience, get inside, sit inside and ride along," summarises project manager Dr Marco Münster. The DLR pavilion also features an exhibition on the technology and development of the U-Shift prototypes. A glimpse into the working world of the future is provided by the control centre for automated vehicles, which is also located in the pavilion. A digital presentation shows all the research projects of the Baden-Württemberg Automotive Industry Strategy Dialogue, of which the U-Shift is a part.