After a long preparation phase, the starting signal for the research project CONTROL – short for “Controlling Risk of Highly Automated Transportation Systems Operating in Complex Open Environments”- was given on October 1. Shortly thereafter, Siemens, as the consortium lead, invited all participating partners and their responsible staff to the project kickoff in Munich. On October 21 and 22, 80 representatives from the 24 partners involved met not only to get to know each other in person but also to begin the joint research work planned for the next three years.

At its core, CONTROL aims to enhance safety in autonomous driving on roads and railways in complex environments. Autonomous cars, trucks, buses, and trains should operate safely and reliably even when traffic conditions change constantly due to unexpected obstacles or varying weather conditions.

Automated systems currently in use only function under clearly defined environmental conditions. What is missing is the ability to act safely in an open, highly dynamic world with external factors changing. The project addresses rare scenarios, including unexpected obstacles on roads and tracks, limited visibility, and fluctuating weather and lighting conditions.

By the end of the project in autumn 2028, innovative methods will be developed to safeguard autonomous vehicles as part of a dynamic overall road and rail system. Central to this is the creation of a cross-domain safety argumentation that systematically captures, evaluates, and controls operational uncertainties and integrates them into the architecture of autonomous systems. Based on this, the system can initiate precautionary measures—such as adjusting speed or controlled evasive maneuvers. This approach is complemented by new quality metrics, adaptive sensor fusion, and simulation-based validation. Practical applicability will be tested in demonstrators provided by the participating partners during the project.

EICT is responsible for project management and dissemination of results. By organizing – and even more so by executing and supporting -the kickoff event, the EICT team demonstrated its highly professional service approach at its best.