On the way to a car-free campus with MobiLab

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are currently developing a self-driving e-scooter. As part of the MobiLab mobility concept, e-scooters address the last mile on the campus. In practice, the e-scooters will transport, for example, students from the S-Bahn station “Universität” to their lecture halls in the morning. The e-scooters will use a modern control system to slowly drive to the next port of call without the need for a driver. If the battery charge level drops, the e-scooter will move to the nearest inductive charging station and recharge there.

Professor Frank Allgöwer and his team have now developed several prototypes. The most current one can drive in dynamic circles and figure eights without tipping over. It also uses ultrasonic waves to detect obstacles and stops in front of them. Another prototype, the “Acrobot”, has a joint on the handlebar that allows the e-scooter to balance itself – similar to a person standing on one leg and spreading their arms out to stabilize themselves. This alternative balancing mechanism will enable the scooter to right itself after it has fallen over.

Awards:
In 2021, the research team received the Young Author Award from the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) for their paper on autonomous e-scooters. 

Contact person:
Prof. Frank Allgöwer, Head of the Institute for Systems Theory and Automatic Control (IST)

More information

The driverless CampusShuttle is intended to transport employees and students of the University of Stuttgart on the campus. The intended route is from the S-Bahn station or from the parking facilities planned near the Vaihingen Campus to the places where the members of the university work and study. 

Currently the researchers have to program the route into the shuttle. The vehicle must learn where the stops are, where bends are, and where oncoming traffic might be. After passing inspection by the German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV) and receiving certification, the CampusShuttle will be ready for use in the spring of 2023. It is planned that future CampusShuttle vehicles will be able to recharge inductively on the road while driving.

Contact person:
Dr. Dan Greiner, Institute of Automotive Engineering (IFS), University of Stuttgart

[Photo: Dan Greiner IFS/FKFS/University of Stuttgart]

The scientists want to equip part of the CampusShuttle’s route as a “research road” in such a way that the automated shuttle will be able to recharge inductively while driving. This has the advantage that there will be no need for a heavy battery in the vehicle and that it won’t require any downtime. This would make it always ready for use. 

Contact persons:
Professor Nejila Parspour, Director of the Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion (IEW)
Professor Krzysztof Rudion, Institute of Power Transmission and High Voltage Technology (IEH)

As part of the MobiLab, plans exist to build a parking facility, which is to be constructed over the B14 federal highway adjacent to the campus and can be accessed directly from the B14. Solar panels on the roof of the parking facility will produce electricity, with which the parked cars, the CampusShuttle, and the e-scooters can be charged. Smart grids will store and distribute energy intelligently and efficiently. In addition to this, new types of inductive charging will be tested in this research parking facility.