Autonomy and flexibility for the last mile
DLR
In the IMoGer (Innovative modular mobility made in Germany) project, DLR is developing a mobility concept unique in its versatility and practicality. It brings together the autonomous, flexible and demand-driven transport of people and goods for the 'last mile', meaning, for example, carrying people from the local railway station to their front door, or driving the final leg of a parcel delivery transport chain from distribution centre to customer. IMoGer also supports the market ramp-up of autonomous driving in Germany and its associated technologies, innovations and services. The project also leverages potential synergies between passenger and freight transport, meaning it could help reduce traffic congestion and increase efficiency and sustainability in mobility.
Starting in mid-2027, the IMoGer concept will be trialled with a small test fleet in Brunswick's Schwarzer Berg district, Germany, over several weeks. The DLR vehicles will supplement local public transport and handle courier, express and parcel logistics. Until then, the IMoGer team from several DLR transport research institutes still has a great deal of work to do. Companies from the mobility sector, the transport industry and logistics are also involved in the project. MOTOR Ai, DiMOS Operations and VITRONIC Machine Vision are assisting with the development of Technology for vehicle automation, operations management and infrastructure support. Local public transport provider Braunschweiger Verkehrs-GmbH and global logistics and parcel delivery service provider UPS are making it possible to integrate the fleet into real operational processes and systems on a trial basis.
The modular U-Shift vehicle concept behind it all
The U-Shift vehicle developed by DLR serves as the mobile platform underpinning the project – which has already been tested in autonomous operations on a semi-public route during the German Federal Garden Show in 2023. The vehicle is electrically powered and so runs quietly – ideal for driving in urban areas. Ist name stems from its U-shaped propulsion unit, or 'driveboard', which houses the automation and propulsion components to transport either passenger or cargo capsules. For the IMoGer project, DLR is building up a small test fleet of three driveboards, three passenger capsules and three cargo capsules. The generation of U-Shift vehicles that will operate on public roads in Brunswick is now undergoing further technical upgrades to refine its steering and braking systems and add a fail-safe on-board computer. To prepare the U-Shift vehicles for these autonomous driving trials, the team will install all necessary components, such as cameras and sensors, to meet the SAE level 4 safety classification.
Bringing autonomous driving to the roads
Germany's 'Act on Autonomous Driving' has been in place since 2021, allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without a driver being physically present – initially only within predefined and approved areas. "Accordingly, the approval for IMoGer vehicles applies to the Schwarzer Berg urban area and our clearly defined use purposes," explains DLR project spokesperson Tobias Hesse. The law also requires technical supervision, so for the trials in Schwarzer Berg, a safety attendant must be permanently on hand to monitor autonomous operations and intervene if necessary. In future regular operations, technical supervision may, for instance, be located in the fleet operator's control centre and connect to the vehicle as required – such as if another vehicle is illegally double parked and the supervisor authorises the autonomous vehicle to drive around it. "With IMoGer, DLR is demonstrating how technologies for autonomous driving can be put to practical use," concludes Hesse. "Through this research, we're paving the way for regular operations."
With IMoGer, we're active right up to people's doorsteps. We want to make this project tangible for everyone and learn directly from real day-to-day operations.
In the field of connected and autonomous driving, DLR draws on extensive experience and expertise, having developed, for example, a workstation for technical supervision and investigated in detail the interface through which humans and autonomous vehicles interact. With this 'Remote Operation Workplace', DLR has established itself as a pioneer in the field. In the Lower Saxony Test Field, DLR also has access to a unique research infrastructure for advancing the digitalisation of roads and developing, testing and validating autonomous driving functions. The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) is providing approximately 35 million euros in funding for this project.
Autonomous driving could one day help resolve severe staff shortages in the public transport and delivery sectors. According to estimates by the Federal Association of German Bus Operators (BDO), Germany lacks approximately 20,000 bus drivers – a number expected to rise to 87,000 by 2030. The outlook is similarly bleak in the transport and logistics sector.
Strong local involvement
As part of its preparations for the trial, DLR is setting up on-site support infrastructure including cameras and sensors for traffic monitoring and a small depot where vehicles can be parked and charged, capsules swapped and minor maintenance carried out.
In Schwarzer Berg's public transport system, IMoGer will serve as an additional feeder bus to a tram stop during peak times, fitted with its state-of-the-art passenger capsule – with local residents able to register to try out the service as test passengers. When the roads are less busy, the IMoGer vehicles will assist logistics service provider UPS with parcel deliveries.
Active involvement of local citizens and other stakeholders is a cornerstone of the project: "With IMoGer, we're active right up to people's doorstep," says Hesse. "That's why we want to make this project tangible for everyone and learn directly from real day-to-day operations. Feedback from the local community is important to DLR in order to advance the concept and related technologies together."
An article by Denise Nüssle from the DLRmagazine 178. Denise Nüssle is a press editor at DLR mainly covering research in energy and transport. She has been following the U-Shift vehicle's development with interest since its design phase and is looking forward to the IMoGer trials.