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Transport

Dr Jean-Luc Di Paola-Galloni says that regulation of automated cars needs to be harmonised throughout Europe. Image courtesy of Dr Di Paola-Galloni
transport | interview
29 June 2015

The EU needs to regulate for cities with driverless cars – Dr Jean-Luc di Paola-Galloni

Driverless cars may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but according to Dr Jean-Luc Di Paola-Galloni, co-chairman of the European Road Transport Advisory Council (ERTRAC), they could be on our roads in just four years’ time, and so the EU needs to regulate that.

How will we get to the point when a self-driving car will pick passengers up at home and take them to their destination without any input? Credit: Shutterstock/Steve Lagreca
transport
23 June 2015

EU‐US talks to show the road ahead for automated vehicles

High‐level talks between the EU and the US are critical if we are to have self‐driving cars any time soon, carmakers, lawyers, and researchers agree.

Engineers working on seven different car models, including Audi, have already automated many manoeuvres, although these still require human supervision. Image courtesy of AdaptIVe
transport
08 June 2015

Honey, let the car drive: tech getting ready to take the wheel

Bumper to bumper again. But imagine instead of staring at the car ahead, you ask your car to take over, turning your attention to a game, a book, or even a nap.

Self-driving pods would shuttle people to work or to the shops. Image courtesy CityMobil2
transport
01 June 2015

Driverless taxis to become a major form of transport 'in 10 years'

People in cities will shift from using private transport to using self-driving public taxis, as fleets of shared, low-speed electric cars are introduced over the next decade, according to European researchers working on the future of automated transport.

New types of batteries could be on the road in five years. Image: Shutterstock/Olga Besnard
energy | transport
29 October 2014

New batteries could soothe e-car drivers’ range anxiety

Smart control systems and combination batteries could help give reassurance to range-conscious electric car drivers.

Andy Doherty, vice-chairman of the European Rail Research Advisory Council, believes rail innovation could have a major impact on the experience of Europe's rail users.
public–private partnerships | interview | transport
04 July 2014

Virtually connected train convoys to help solve Europe’s transport problems - Andy Doherty

The convoying of trains could be one way to help double railway capacity and reduce carbon emissions, according to Andy Doherty, vice-chairman of the European Rail Research Advisory Council and Director of railways system engineering at Network Rail, the UK rail network operator.

A beach scene and first person avatar in Oculus Rift head-mounted display. Copyright: Markus Leyrer, Florian Soyka, Joachim Tesch and Betty Mohler, MPI for Biological Cynernetics
transport | innovation union
04 June 2014

Virtual reality to ease the pain of long-haul flights

If you are not afraid of heights, this one is for you. With your legs outstretched in front of you, glide around a palm-fringed island on a magic carpet, blissfully unaware of the deprivations of a cramped aircraft cabin. If the thought of flying does not appeal, you can choose a land-based scene, with gentle sounds or music to accompany it on your headset.

Florian Guillermet, the executive director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, believes there needs to be a fundamental change in the way air traffic is managed.
public–private partnerships | interview | transport
30 May 2014

Europe needs to modernise its sky - Florian Guillermet

European pilots will be able to fold away their maps and free up their radio frequency in favour of more advanced technologies to communicate their trajectories with air traffic control, said Florian Guillermet, the executive director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking. These are just some of the ways in which SESAR, a public-private R&D partnership, is contributing to Europe’s goal of modernising its air traffic management (ATM) system and joining up its fragmented skies.

The technology required to navigate automated vehicles is becoming cheaper and more reliable. Image courtesy of CityMobil2.
transport | science in society
20 January 2014

Driverless taxis in European cities from 2014

Driverless taxis will be carrying passengers during demonstration projects in five European cities as of February 2014.

An aerial robot designed by the ARCAS project. Image courtesy of the ARCAS project
industry | transport | women in science
06 December 2013

Robots to help humans on land, air and sea

Research in robotics could lead to machines that can navigate the sea like fish and check out large remote structures from the air. 

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