PROJECT

AURA

The ability to cover distances flexibly but also economically defines one of the fundamental needs of our society. Although car-oriented individual transport meets these requirements by offering high transport capacity, comfort and availability, it causes not only traffic jams and individually high costs, but also overarching ecological problems. Accordingly, the urban space alternative in particular offers individual (bike sharing, car sharing, taxis) or public alternatives to satisfy mobility needs. Each of the transport modes has specific advantages and disadvantages, which are combined by the users according to their needs. These intermodal mobility chains are, however, incomplete, i.e. there are mobility needs that can only be fulfilled to a limited extent or make the car appear to be without alternative. This is where the research project „AuRa“ comes in.

The „AuRa“ project is developing and testing a complete system for three-wheeled cargo bikes that are provided autonomously. From the user's point of view, „AuRa“ realizes the reliable and demand-oriented provision of a cargo bike, i.e. how it needs it! Where it needs it! When she needs it! The „AuRa“ project team meets this task, which is highly demanding on a technical, logistical/business management, social science and legal level, with a broadly based team of experts from the relevant disciplines. The research and development work includes:

• The autonomous wheel, designed as a three-wheeled cargo bike, which is able to orientate itself and ride automatically on pavements and bicycle traffic infrastructures
• A call service via app with which users can order the bike to themselves or to certain public transport stations. After use, the bike is released and returns to the starting point.
• An operational concept in which the extended components for the overall system (stations, operational management, energy supply) are specified in order to be procured from the market
• An action guideline for user acceptance and the internal development process with which a user-centred design of the bicycle and socially accepted driving behaviour can be achieved.
• A legal opinion that shows the legal barriers and ways to overcome them for a market launch.