Transportation faces major challenges worldwide. Growing cities, increasing mobility needs, and the need to reduce emissions all require innovative solutions. At the same time, ensuring the safety of all road users, notably pedestrians and cyclists, is paramount. Automated and connected technologies offer promising approaches to making mobility more sustainable, efficient, and safe. However, these technologies must be thoroughly tested and further developed before they can be used across the board.
Digibus, Salzburgring, 20190919 Foto: wildbild, Herbert Rohrer 
Der Digitrans eVAN als neuer „Digibus 2.0“ bei ersten Testfahren in der Salzburger Gemeinde Koppl im Rahmen des europäischen Forschungsprojektes SHOW © Salzburg Research 
Bike2CAV real-world tests 
Ein mit C-ITS-Technologie ausgestatteter Rettungswagen des Roten Kreuz Salzburg © Salzburg Research
Technologies from automated driving can serve as a springboard for developing more widely applicable safety solutions for cyclists and emergency vehicles, for example
At Salzburg Research, automated driving is examined not only from the perspective of vehicles, but also from a broader perspective that considers vulnerable road users. Thanks to an interdisciplinary approach, insights into automated driving have been developed and concrete contributions to road safety and the mobility transition have been made.
In recent years, Salzburg Research has established itself as a pioneer in developing and testing innovative technologies that support the transition to more sustainable mobility. These technologies range from automated driving to improving safety for road users. The systematic research and testing of automated vehicles began in 2016 with Digibus®, Austria’s first self-driving minibus test. The new technology was introduced to public roads and integrated into existing mobility systems over the last mile to test its suitability for everyday use. The focus was on ensuring safe operation under real conditions, such as during public demonstrations in Koppl. Various makes and models were tested extensively. Findings showed that cooperative and intelligent transportation systems (C-ITS) can significantly contribute to the safety of automated vehicles, particularly protecting vulnerable road users and warning of emergency vehicles.
Research questions:
- How can automated vehicles reliably recognize vulnerable road users with the help of artificial intelligence?
- How can the safety of these users be ensured with regards to automated vehicles?
- How can cooperative technologies help avoid critical situations?
News articles on automated driving
News articles on automated driving
More safety for cyclists / emergency vehicles
All the figures, data, facts, success stories and activities for our anniversary: www.salzburgresearch.at/en/25-years-of-salzburg-research/
