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Future of driving: Ulm University presents innovative traffic technologies!
Demo event at Ulm University shows progress in cooperative driving as part of the EU PoDIUM project with Bosch and Nokia.
Future of driving: Ulm University presents innovative traffic technologies!
On April 9, 2025, a remarkable demo event for networked cooperative driving took place at the University of Ulm and the Lehr district. Organized by the University of Ulm in collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen and the companies Bosch and Nokia, this event is part of the EU project PoDIUM, which is carried out within the “Reallabor Germany”. The event demonstrated live a cooperative maneuver between two automated vehicles and a blocking vehicle, a crucial step towards the practical implementation of connected mobility.
The live demonstrations required extensive environmental data necessary for safe interactions between vehicles. Sensors and cameras were installed on light poles to collect essential data about the traffic situation. The vehicles carried their own sensor signals along with data from the traffic infrastructure to precisely control the maneuver. A server on the mobile network played a central role by coordinating the cooperative maneuver and instructing the vehicles accordingly.
Challenges and ambitions
The PoDIUM project, which started at the end of 2022 and is scheduled to run until 2025, aims to develop innovative technologies for real-time communication and control in future mobility solutions. With a budget of over 12 million euros, almost 9 million of which is funded by the EU, the project involves 24 partners from eight European countries. Led by Professor Michael Buchholz from Ulm University, the focus will be on developing reliable support for connected, automated vehicles.
The project also aims to address the existing challenges in automating transport. In particular, physical and digital infrastructures need to be improved to meet connectivity, interoperability and data management requirements. These problems not only affect the technical aspects, but also the trust and sustainability of future mobility.
Cooperative systems and European cooperation
Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) are at the center of this development as they enable the exchange of information between vehicles and the infrastructure. The EU plays a crucial role in supporting these technologies and is working on strategic initiatives to create cross-border corridors for testing and demonstrations. This is also made possible by the cooperation of 29 signatory states to a declaration of intent from 2017 that focuses on the creation of 5G corridors.
Connected and automated mobility (CAM) is driven by digital technologies such as robotics, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. Similar policies and legislation on cybersecurity, data use and privacy are becoming increasingly important. In this rapidly evolving environment, both researchers and industry partners must work together to address new challenges.
The final event of the PoDIUM project is scheduled for September 2025 in Barcelona, where the results of the research will be presented. The vision is clear: future-proof mobility based on trust, safety and efficiency will not only revolutionize the way we drive, but also have a lasting impact on traffic flows in urban areas.
For detailed insights into the advances in connected and automated mobility and the challenges facing the technology, those interested can read the articles from Ulm University here, from Cooperation International here and by the European Commission here read.