Program: H2020 Smart, Green and Integrated Transport
Geographical coverage: EU and US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore
and/or Australia
Available contribution per project: 15 to 20 M€
Type
of action: Innovation action
Deadlines:
Deadline Model : single-stage
Connected and automated driving systems for heavy commercial vehicles have great potential to bring a disruptive change to the trucking industry, fleet operators and the whole logistics sector. They can improve safety and efficiency of freight transport and make vehicle operations more comfortable. Fuel efficiency gains can be achieved through automated truck operations, such as platooning. Various automated trucks and truck platooning concepts are being tested in several countries. Positive impacts can be expected when highly automated systems will be used in logistics operations going from hub to hub including both operations in mixed traffic and in confined areas.
There are a number of specific challenges that need to be addressed before connected, cooperative and automated driving technologies for heavy commercial vehicles can be widely deployed: vehicle technologies, driver/user interaction/collaboration, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, operational challenges in confined areas (ports, logistics terminals, consolidation centres, truck parkings, etc.) and in mixed traffic on public roads.The focus of this topic is
to develop, test and demonstrate connected and automated systems for heavy
commercial vehicles in real logistics operations.
Proposed actions should include all the following aspects:
The active involvement of shippers, freight forwarders and truck manufacturers is strongly encouraged. The cooperation with organisations linked to actions of the TEN-T network is encouraged.
In line with the Union's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation, international cooperation is encouraged. In particular, proposals should foresee cooperation with projects or partners from the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and/or Australia. Proposals should foresee twinning with entities participating in projects funded by US DOT to exchange knowledge and experience and exploit synergies. Twinning with Japan is also encouraged.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 15 and 20 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.Actions are expected to
contribute to the accelerated deployment of innovative connected and automated
freight transport solutions in Europe. Actions will show that they will help to
increase the overall safety and efficiency of freight operations of individual
trucks or fleets (emissions/freight ratio, fuel consumption, road occupancy,
vehicle utilization, capacity of transport network) in confined areas and in mixed traffic (hub to hub) through
innovative connected and automated driving systems. Actions will show the
uptake of new business models and seek to reach a total cost reduction of
operations and logistics and supply chain leading to
improved competitiveness of the European transport and logistics industry. A
cost-benefit analysis will demonstrate the added value and economic viability
of automated systems in real logistics operations for users and stakeholders.