Intelligent Infrastructure: Digital Test Fields in Aachen, Munich and Ulm

Summary

The digital twin is visualized from three connected test fields in Aachen, Munich and Ulm. All locations are equipped with high-precision sensor technology – including cameras, LiDAR and radar – to precisely record traffic objects. The sensor data is recorded and processed in real time and transferred to a shared digital twin via a central communication unit. This means that the detected objects are available centrally and can be used specifically for the development and optimization of decision-making and movement planning processes for automated driving systems. As part of the demonstration, the real-time data from all three test fields can be visualized together – directly and intuitively via a browser-based interface.

State of the Art

The development of intelligent infrastructures for automated and connected driving in Germany is based on state-of-the-art sensor technology, real-time data processing and digital twins. The A9 test field in Munich combines simulations with real tests to optimize AI-supported algorithms. In Aachen and Ulm, 5G campus networks, IoT systems and sensor fusion enable precise vehicle-infrastructure communication. These intelligent test fields are a central component of the test sites for automated driving. Their main purpose is to detect traffic objects to continuously monitor the traffic environment and respond to various emergency scenarios.

Technological Innovations

Technological innovations are particularly evident in the introduction of new sensor types, such as event-based cameras. Research results show that these innovative sensors can significantly improve conventional sensor systems in traffic monitoring. They enable more precise detection of highly dynamic traffic objects, even under difficult conditions such as night-time driving or extreme weather conditions.