R&D Cluster

Currently, sixteen Fraunhofer Institutes are combining their specific know-how within the area of transport-related research. This grouping helps to generate a comprehensive system-related expertise.

One objective of the Transport Alliance is the representation of the business area »transportation and traffic« within the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. This makes the Transport Alliance the central contact point in all matters concerning transport-related research.

Furthermore, the Alliance influences the strategic focus of public funded R&D and initiates traffic-related R&D topics, cooperates with associations and generates R&D projects.

The Alliance is actively involved in the following areas:

• Ergonomic analysis and design of driver’s ride on position, driver assistance and driver information systems
• Autonomous driving
• Rapid virtual prototyping and testing of human-machine interfaces in vehicles
• Driving simulation and testing of vehicles systems
• Acoustic human-machine interfaces for voice control, optimized presentation of voice and media contents
• Active systems for noise and vibration control, active chassis
• Telematics platforms and infotainment / entertainment systems for driver and passengers
• Electronic passenger information systems

• Pres-safe-concepts ad crash systems
• Structural durability and system reliability
• Protection of passengers and pedestrian by simulation and experiments
• Review of safety components in rail, road, water and air transport
• Intelligent vehicle components an drivers assistance: sensors, microsystems technology, electronic for automobile safety
• Sensor-based condition monitoring
• Safe control software
• Security systems for special transports (for example excess width)
• Nautical security and risk analysis

• Intelligent lightweight systems
• Intelligent and new material (»Smart Materials«)
• Health monitoring systems
• Efficient noise and emission control
• Electrical drive
• System reliability of fuel cells and hydrogen motors
• Innovative drive and control techniques considering lifecycle costs and operator-friendliness
• Traffic management
• Efficient and eco-friendly climate systems
• Emission monitoring and effect analysis of low-emission transportation systems
• Potential evaluation of energy efficiency
• Process modelling by software applications and traffic simulations

• Logistic strategies and concepts
• Process efficiency and reduction
• Distribution, net and tour planning systems
• Logistics location optimization
• Supply Chain Management
• Tracking & Tracing systems
• Fleet management systems
• Handling systems
• Reengineering and maintenance of vehicles and components
• Solutions for the “Last Mile”
• Visually supported port and terminal planning

• Strategies for sustainable coping for future transport growth
• Design and planning techniques
• Business models and shared economy
• New transport concepts by electro mobility and autonomous driving
• Cross-linked and intermodal public transport
• Digitization in mobility
• High quality public transport
• Fare management
• Passenger information systems
• Alternative, intermodal transport modes and systems
• Comprehensive and fully automatic transport systems
• Vehicle systems for urban business traffic
• Personnel requirements and  personnel applications planning

• Improvement of utilization and efficiency of transport infrastructures
• Determination of traffic data
• Recording of traffic conditions
• Cross-linked traffic information and  traffic management
• Traffic management and influencing
• Increasing resilience to disturbance
• Urban logistics and resistant urban infrastructures
• Self-control and damage detection of constructions
• Efficient and trouble-free infrastructure maintenance
• Simulation based identification of transport demand for the strategic infrastructure development