CoSMoS 2022 - 3 questions for Dr. Christian Lösel, Ingolstadt University of Technology

With our small series "Three questions to..." we interview selected personalities on various topics. The questions pick up, among other things, topics that are discussed by the interviewees in the form of keynote speeches or other activities in the context of events of Bayern Innovativ .

Today we direct our short interview to Dr. Christian Lösel, Managing Director AImotion Bavaria, Ingolstadt University of Technology. His presentation at our Conference on Smart Mobility Services (CoSMoS) on March 10, 2022 in Ingolstadt is "AI Mobility in Ingolstadt: Artificial Intelligence Network Ingolstadt (AININ), AI Mobility Nodes and the KIVI Project."

Artificial intelligence in the traffic system

Dear Dr. Lösel, the scientists at AININ are working on the use of artificial intelligence in Ingolstadt's traffic system. Can you briefly explain where there is potential here for urban areas ?
Dr. Lösel: The project "Artificial Intelligence in the Ingolstadt Traffic System (KIVI)" is trying to achieve an increase in efficiency in the areas of traffic control and traffic safety across all road users. Through data fusion as well as the use of AI processes, it is being examined how traffic signal systems can be optimized through more comprehensive, up-to-date information about all road users and how traffic safety can be increased especially at intersections as accident blackspots. Data-driven AI procedures are to be used to improve traffic control and safety. To this end, a high definition test field is being set up across several intersections, equipped with local sensor technology to detect all road users. Additional mobile sensor technology (cars, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians equipped with 5G smartphones ) generate the most comprehensive current digital image possible of the local and network-wide traffic situation and enable a forecast of the multimodal network-wide traffic situation. Based on this, a demand-based green time distribution for all road users and a traffic light phase assistant will be implemented. A warning function will use AI methods to recognize the behavior and intention of (non-)motorized road users and provide targeted visual and acoustic warnings of dangerous situations.

AI mobility node

Ingolstadt has already initiated some interesting AI projects in the mobility sector, such as the AI mobility node. Can you give us a brief insight into the current initiatives?
Dr. Lösel: THI is outstanding in research and teaching nationwide. As part of the Hightech Agenda Bavaria, Ingolstadt became an AI node for mobility with a focus on autonomous driving, unmanned flying, Digital Production and cross-cutting topics such as Medicine , Commerce, Ethics, and Text and Language Understanding. The activities of the AI node are bundled in "AImotion Bavaria," an institute of the Technical University. With its 20 professorships and soon 120 scientists in the field of artificial intelligence, Ingolstadt University of Technology is a major powerhouse of AI research in the Federal Republic of Germany. The aim is to contribute to securing the technological leadership of Bavaria as a business location in order to strengthen its key industries and ensure its future viability from an ecological, economic and social perspective.

Mobility of the future

How do you envision urban mobility of the future?

Dr. Lösel: As an automotive location and AI mobility hub, Ingolstadt is one of the pioneers in researching issues related to autonomous mobility in two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences is therefore in a better position than almost any other scientific institution to assess the impact and developments of artificial intelligence in the field of autonomous driving, sustainable urban traffic development and overall traffic systems. The implementation of artificial intelligence in (road) traffic makes it possible to optimize traffic, increase traffic safety, reduce waiting times, and optimize routes with the help of traffic lights. In addition, it serves to optimize the existing infrastructure, to make the use of existing vehicles and vehicle fleets more efficient, to open up new mobility concepts and to establish automated vehicles, for example in the form of shuttles. In addition to technical development, this also involves the conceptual design of an infrastructure and the integration of unmanned vehicles and aircraft for passenger or freight transport into the existing mobility system. Currently, for example, work is being done in the Ingolstadt area on the development of the CityAirbus, a vertical-takeoff autonomous cab drone. The same applies to autonomous road vehicles (cars and buses), which will complement our transportation system in a few years. So the mobility of the future will be more intermodal, more autonomous, more available and safer.

Thank you very much for the interesting insights, Dr. Lösel. We look forward to your presentation at CoSMoS!

Event note: CoSMoS 2022 I March 10, 2022 I Ingolstadt

Intelligent data and, above all, AI-based solutions have the potential to make mobility more efficient, more sustainable and, above all, safer. From multimodal traffic control and intelligent mobility platforms to traffic optimization of highly complex traffic flows, there is a wide range of application areas.
Users, companies and municipalities alike benefit from smart, networked transport services. This also includes a further increase in the intermodality of individual routes. A balanced modal split between motorized individual transport, public transport and smart solutions as well as micromobility offers combined with digital, AI-based platforms contribute to a resilient and convenient overall system.

The Cluster Automotive of Bayern Innovativ GmbH , together with the Ingolstadt University of Technology, will once again showcase innovative solutions from science and industry at this year's Conference on Smart Mobility Services (CoSMoS) .

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