Automated and connected vehicles can help relieve road traffic, reduce the number of accidents and increase comfort in the vehicle. This also improves the energy efficiency of transport and reduces negative environmental impacts.

Powerful and flexible test infrastructures are an important tool in the development of automated and connected vehicles. For this purpose, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is building the Lower Saxony test field, funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transport and Digitization and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony . Several ERTICO Partners are among the partners providing support, such as Continental AG , Siemens AG and Volkswagen AG. An open research and development platform will be created, a unique and comprehensive combination of different test and testing options will be offered – from simulation to routes in public spaces. The construction of the infrastructure for the Testfeld Niedersachsen project and the digitization of the road network were implemented with funds from the European Fund for Regional Development and the State of Lower Saxony. 

The Lower Saxony test field comprises sections of the A2, A7, A39, A391 motorways, as well as parts of the federal and state roads B3, B6, B243 and L295. It also integrates the established routes of the application platform Intelligent Mobility (AIM) , which is in operation in the city center of Braunschweig. This enables testing in different traffic situations and in the transition between different road types. In total, the test field of Lower Saxony will cover more than 280 kilometers with sectors of various technical equipment after completion.

The tools of the Lower Saxony test field offer various simulations, which in particular also enable hardware-in-the-loop / software-in-the-loop, driver-in-the-loop and vehicle-in-the-loop examinations. The tool chain extends to the public space through test sites and trials in real traffic. The individual elements of the tool chain can be used in an integrated way, for example to optimally combine the respective advantages of synthetic and real environments in trials.

The highly precise recording technology of the test field records all vehicle positions with high precision and thus provides the exact traffic situation – in the sense of a ground truth – for analysis and for live services. A live service, for example, emulates position signals that would be known and searched for if every vehicle were equipped with Car2X technology. Corresponding messages are generated by the test field. You can find more information on the unique communication and recording technology and all other services offered here (in German).

Who could be interested?

  • Partners from business and science who develop and / or manufacture sensors for automated vehicles
  • Partners from business and science who work on automated and connected driving functions
  • Partners from business and science who develop new technology components in vehicles and transport infrastructure
  • Scientific institutions that do research on the subject of automated and connected mobility
  • Politicians and associations who want to find out more about automated and connected driving

Source and photo credit: German Aerospace Center (DLR)