PROJECT GOALS
Technology meets
reality in public transport
ROBERTA develops the foundations for operating automated buses with more than eight seats and integrates them into existing route networks. The focus is on adapting available technologies to Austrian conditions.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Fleet & Remote Management
Central control system and remote monitoring for all pilot regions – scalable and secure.
INTEGRATION
System Integration
Integration into existing public transport processes and their digital infrastructure, without parallel structures.
SAFETY
Safety Methodology
Development of processes and standards for safe operation with safety staff and remote monitoring.
RESEARCH
Insights & Data
Collection of real-world data on costs, travel times, staff deployment, availability and user acceptance over 12 months.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable Mobility
Strengthening public transport by adding highly automated buses – flexible, affordable and future-proof for rural and urban areas alike.
Strategic Goals
» Provide insights and recommendations for action
» Raise awareness among stakeholder groups
» Advance safety standards
» Establish an objective evaluation process
» Specify a framework for the trials
Operational Goals
Technical
» Adapt operational and ODD* monitoring
» Develop a "virtual conductor"
» Develop operational and strategic charging management
» Conduct a 12-month trial operation
* The Operational Design Domain (ODD) describes the specific conditions under which an automated vehicle can be operated safely. The Operational Conditions (OC) describe the parameters of the automated vehicle’s operating environment, such as route characteristics or environmental influences. The monitoring regularly checks whether the vehicle remains within its ODD despite changed OC, such as a snow-covered road.
Economic/organisational
» Specify the tendering and planning process
» Adapt operational planning and management
» Trial a holistic safety concept
» Develop a business and operator model for large-scale rollout
Social
» Consider equal opportunities, inclusion and accessibility
» Develop new job profiles
» Provide passenger information for the public transport service
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION
ROBERTA delivers results not only for Austrian public transport – the research findings feed into leading European and international bodies for automated driving.
CCAM Partnership
Connected, Cooperative
and Automated Mobility –
EU partnership
EARPA
European Automotive Research Partners Association
ECAVA
European networking in the automated vehicle sector
International Advisory Board
Independent experts provide scientific guidance for the project
ROBERTA &
SAAM Austria
SAAM AUSTRIA INTEGRATION
ROBERTA is closely connected with the SAAM Austria platform. The project results contribute to the Austrian mobility strategy and lay the foundation for a broader rollout of automated mobility across the national public transport network.