Researchers in the Faculty of Mathematics/Computer Science at the University of Bremen will now be able to test run their own autonomous research vehicle on public roads – albeit with a human driver standing by at the wheel. Bremen’s Senator for Transport, Joachim Lohse, has already handed over a special permit to project leader Professor Christof Büskens.
The tests constitute an important element of a project supported by the German Ministry of Economics and Energy and the DLR Institute of Space Systems called “AO Car – Autonomous, optimal vehicle navigation and control in the area of urban vehicle-passenger transport”. The project is led by the research group “Optimization and Optimal Control” belonging to the Center for Industrial Mathematics (Professor Christof Büskens), working together with the research groups “Cognitive Neuroinformatics” (Professorin Kerstin Schill) and “Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality” (Professor Gabriel Zachmann). Their task is to develop new driver assistance systems as well as to research and find solutions to the fundamental mathematical and IT-related problem issues.
Senator Lohse commented on the move by saying: “I’m very happy that this important cornerstone for further practical research on autonomous driving is in place and that the research team will now be able to fully apply their holistic approach to finding new solutions in this highly competitive market segment”.
Professor Büskens added: “We would like to thank the Senator for the swift and uncomplicated support the Federal State of Bremen provided from the outset. The project pools Bremen‘s central strengths in the field of aerospace and automobile production, and it makes an important contribution towards bringing university research closer to the citizens of Bremen.”
Drawing on insights gained from space missions
The purpose pursued by the project is to transfer the existing algorithms and methods developed in aerospace research to the area of automobile applications. The project partners have already been working together for a number of years on the development of highly sophisticated, automated aerospace systems. They now want to apply the methods already developed to the research vehicle and test the results under realistic conditions in Bremen traffic.
Senator Lohse handed over the all-important special permit that is required before the research vehicle can take to the road. Wishing the research team every success, he gave green light to start testing autonomous driving in Bremen and its surroundings. The permit covers designated routes in Bremen and Lower Saxony along which highly automated driving maneuvers will in future be allowed to take place. The approved “test track“ was chosen for the occurrence of typical traffic situations such as shared space, crossroads, rural roads, motorways, urban traffic arteries, parking facilities, and so and so forth.
