With its modular design, DLR's innovative U-Shift vehicle concept opens up completely new possibilities for moving people, goods and spaces intelligently, emission-free and autonomously - around the clock.
U-Shift overall system
U-Shift uses modular autonomous vehicles for passenger and goods transport, as well as for distributing mobile parcel stations. Technical supervision and support from the infrastructure ensure the process is safe.
The U-Shift passenger capsule is a central component of the modular vehicle concept and is specially designed for local public transport and flexible mobility solutions over the last mile. The capsule offers seven fixed seats and an additional folding seat. A large, barrier-free entrance with an integrated ramp enables convenient access for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs or people with limited mobility. The area can also be used flexibly as a standing area.
Zusätzlich zum Driveboard hat das U-Shift-Team zwei Kapseln gebaut: Die Personenkapsel ist mit sieben ergonomischen Sitzplätzen, einem Rollstuhlbeziehungsweise Kinderwagenplatz und einem Klappsitz ausgestattet. Für einen barrierefreien Einstieg sorgt eine große Tür mit integrierter Rampe. Die Cargoversion bietet Platz für mehrere Paletten oder Rollwagen.
The U-Shift cargo capsule is specially designed for transporting a wide variety of loads in urban and rural areas. It is characterised by its simple, therefore inexpensive and modular design as well as its flexible adaptability to meet the different requirements of modern logistics solutions. There are two main variants: a short goods capsule for smaller deliveries and a long goods capsule that can accommodate larger volumes and bulky goods.
The capsules are lightweight and equipped with only the most necessary technical features to enable cost-efficient production. The short goods capsule holds 3 Euro pallets and is particularly suitable for the so-called last mile in urban logistics. Small parcels, food deliveries or medicines can be transported quickly and emission-free. The short version can also be converted into a mobile market stall or similar with the help of a flap and a counter. The long version holds 4 Euro pallets and is designed for transporting bulky goods, pallets or larger freight items, for example for industrial estates, urban intralogistics or distribution centres. Both versions have flexible loading systems and can be equipped with various superstructures such as shelving systems, protective walls or cooling modules.
The parcel box capsule enables the secure and contactless receipt and dispatch of parcels by allowing it to be flexibly placed at different locations from the driveboard and used directly as a mobile parcel station
The snack capsule turns the U-Shift into a mobile, fully equipped catering unit - ideal for street food, events and flexible urban catering. It can be set down from the Driveboard at any location and used immediately as a snack or food truck.
The U-Shift concept can be used for bike sharing as automated "rebalancing" logistics: At times of low usage (e.g. at night), the autonomous, electric driving module with a suitable transport capsule travels specifically to hotspots, collects bikes there and brings them to locations where they are forecast to be needed next, resulting in fewer empty or overcrowded stations in the morning and increasing availability in the network.
