To achieve safe and sustainable mobility, it is necessary to consider key aspects such as connectivity and automation, which constitutes a very complex ecosystem in which there is total interaction: vehicles communicate with each other and with infrastructures, with road users, vehicles that have systems to detect dangerous solutions and provide alternatives, etc.
Advances in innovative technologies and changing consumer preferences in mobility will denote a radical change as intelligent mobility and autonomous driving are implemented. This process will be gradual, and for a long-time mixed traffic scenarios will coexist, with vehicles of different automation and connectivity ranges, as well as different motorizations and infrastructures with different degrees of connectivity.
In this context, the MACS.2 project aims to research and develop technologies related to Autonomous Mobility; considering Infrastructure, Safety and Sustainability, contributing to the achievement of the mobility objectives set by Europe, oriented both to new vehicle solutions and infrastructure.
To achieve this objective, actions have been carried out on three fundamental axes focused on:
- VEHICLE: Definition of new hybrid structures that allow the adoption of electrification solutions (PHEV, BEV, FCEV), based on the study of advanced, lighter and smarter materials that reduce weight, increase durability and automation and allow new uses and functionalities, guaranteeing the structural integrity of the vehicle, improving the use of raw materials and resources, facilitating its recyclability and circularity.
- SAFETY. Research and development of new advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) whose parameters change radically compared to those used in conventional vehicles, as well as the study of physical and design parameters, and the study of new mobility scenarios, defining new test protocols appropriate to the new casuistry.
- INFRASTRUCTURE. i) Research and development of new road infrastructure solutions with more sustainable materials that improve functionality and efficiency, as well as safety conditions, incorporating intelligent monitoring and maintenance of both infrastructure and its signalling and safety elements, ii) Development of new short-range connectivity solutions, integrated with long-range communication systems, to ensure seamless connectivity, incorporating cybersecurity and guaranteeing the integrity of communications, iii) Development of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with a high degree of predictability to optimize routes and itineraries in real time, minimizing the use of resources and energy, as well as study and definition of prioritization rules for the information to be sent to a vehicle from other vehicles and infrastructure within the cooperative V2X system.
In the VEHICLE area, research has focused on improving sustainability by reducing vehicle weight and using innovative materials to improve energy efficiency and recyclability. In terms of vehicle lightweighting, solutions based on multifunctional materials have been studied and developed, including the combination of light metals, such as aluminium, with polymers or composite materials, to create resistant and lightweight components. We have also worked on the development of processes for new multi-materials, including advanced techniques such as CSMC hot moulding, foaming, and technologies such as 3D printing, as well as creating simulation models to improve the production and properties of automotive components. In addition, techniques have been developed for integrating new materials by welding, and design has been optimized to facilitate the joining of dissimilar materials, improving the lightness and efficiency of vehicles without compromising their strength and safety.
In the area of SAFETY, the main objective has been to understand and analyse the new scenarios of Integrated Safety within mixed traffic scenarios, in which different technological levels of automated driving coexist. It has been essential to design new integrated safety solutions, both experimental and virtual, and with a high degree of predictability, highlighting the use of virtual human models as a basis for the design of potential countermeasures to minimize damage in the event of a lateral accident. Safety improvement was addressed through a holistic approach, including the conceptualization of new structures, vehicle components and new systems for occupant protection, considering the different occupant typologies of future vehicles.
In the INFRASTRUCTURE area, the objective has been to research and develop communication technologies to reduce emissions, improve traffic flow, traffic density and safety, enhancing the V2X concept. In this context, aspects such as traffic signal detection and classification, image processing and improvement in low-light environments, or vehicle detection under adverse weather conditions are fundamental. Artificial intelligence solutions have been developed to process the information received from the onboard sensors of the autonomous vehicle and its connectivity systems to fully define its environment. All the technologies that enable these solutions have been developed by integrating them into neural networks that, due to their learning capacity, enable progress towards more automated, safer and more efficient driving.