KIRA+: New project for autonomous driving in public transport launches in the Rhine-Main region
- The DLR is trialling autonomous on-demand transport using accessible vehicles in collaboration with the RMV, DB and HOLON.
- The aim of the project is to establish a pilot region for autonomous driving.
- KIRA+ is being trialled in practice in Darmstadt and the Offenbach district.
- KIRA+ is a test bed within the MILA.mobility project, which is funded by the BMFTR.
- Key areas: autonomous driving, remote operation, public transport
The Rhine-Main region remains a pioneer in autonomous mobility in Germany: With KIRA+, the Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV), Deutsche Bahn (DB) and HOLON have launched a new project to trial and establish autonomous driving in local public transport. Preparations for the trial are currently underway. The first test journeys to map the areas will take place in the course of 2027 in parts of Darmstadt and the district of Offenbach, within the areas covered by the local project partners HEAG mobilo and Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Offenbach.
New vehicle for autonomous on-demand transport
KIRA+ is using the HOLON urban, which is designed to be accessible and fitted with Mobileye’s autonomous driving technology. The vehicle, developed specifically for local public transport, offers five passenger seats and one wheelchair space during trial operations. If the wheelchair space is in use, three passenger seats are available.
KIRA+ paves the way for the planned model region
The aim is to establish a pilot region for autonomous driving in local public transport. This refers to a defined area in which autonomous mobility services are no longer merely tested in individual pilot projects, but form part of the regular local public transport system.
To this end, KIRA+ is testing and analysing the operation of the self-driving vehicles and the on-demand booking processes, with a particular focus on their scalability. Bookings will be made via ioki GmbH’s project-specific app, which coordinates journey requests and intelligently links them together during route planning. Safety personnel will be present at all times during journeys to monitor the SAE Level 4 autonomous journeys.
The planned operational area builds on the predecessor project, KIRA, which is due to run until the end of 2026. This will enable existing capabilities for autonomous operation, such as the control centre, to continue to be utilised. Experience gained from KIRA and other previous projects on autonomous driving is also being incorporated into booking processes, operational procedures and vehicle equipment. On this basis, KIRA+ aims to yield further insights for the future deployment of autonomous vehicles in regular public transport, including aspects relating to technical supervision.
Test site in the MILA.mobility funding project
KIRA+ is one of five test sites in the MILA.mobility funding project. The overall MILA.mobility project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and stands for ‘Middleware integration of control centre and dispatch systems for autonomous mobility’. The aim is to develop and harmonise a so-called middleware architecture that connects the software systems required for autonomous public transport: from the vehicle, through fleet dispatch, to the control centre.
Design of the Technical Supervision workstation
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is providing scientific support for the project. The DLR is placing particular emphasis on research into and the design of the technical supervision workstation as a tele-assistance system (in accordance with AFGBV) for autonomous vehicles, in order to be able to support entire fleets of autonomous vehicles efficiently and effectively whilst they carry out their driving tasks in real-world traffic. This research also explores the benefits and challenges of using AI support in human-machine interaction to achieve the necessary scalability of the tele-assistance system, with a view to developing a business case.
The KIRA+ project partners
The project initiator, the Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV), is the region’s transport authority and is committed to the further development of autonomous mobility services, with the aim of providing comprehensive, attractive public transport across the RMV area and beyond. HOLON, a company within the BENTELER Group, is providing the vehicles under the ‘HOLON urban’ scheme. As the vehicle owner, HOLON is responsible for vehicle-related licences and maintenance, with support from DB Regio. DB Regio is responsible for the licences required under passenger transport legislation and for the operation of the autonomous vehicles. This includes fleet management, technical supervision, management of the operational area and passenger assistance on board the vehicles.
The KIRA+ project benefits from the strong innovation network established during the preceding KIRA project. As such, Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Offenbach and HEAG mobilo in Darmstadt are also closely involved as local partners in KIRA+. The KIRA+ trial is to take place in their respective regions. The industry partner is the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).
