The introduction of connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) can make a significant improvement to logistic chains. The MODI project will identify and largely resolve barriers on confined areas and on public roads for SAE L4 CCAM vehicles on the corridor from Rotterdam to Oslo, and demonstrate the solutions. Coordination is a central element of development in this project: it enables early integration of CCAM in current logistic vehicle operations, adding more efficiency benefits for logistics companies and thus creating an attractive path to deployment. Coordination is also needed for smart traffic management in the public domain. The project comprises five different use cases, each describing a part of the logistics chain. It identifies what is already possible on SAE L4, and what is not possible yet. For the public roads, the project will focus on understanding and overcoming the regulatory barriers and PDI shortcomings on the motorway corridor with road authorities and OEMs of the project involved. In cocreation with all stakeholders the project will search for an optimal combination of physical, digital infrastructure and OEM equipment, easy to implement and low in costs for all parties. In addition to the demonstrations, the project provides detailed business models for the logistics sector, demonstrating that the use of CCAM can lead to greater profits, especially when vehicles drive on a coordinated way. The consortium consists of 8 industry partners: OEMs, ITS solutions providers, test centers and logistical companies; engineering and research providers with 4 RTOs, 3 universities; and associations of logistical companies, Tier 1 companies, ITS service providers. Complemented with road authorities and cities/regions along the corridor, representing the complete value chain. A strong stakeholder group is committed (signed LoS).

Hi-Drive addresses a number of key challenges which are currently hindering the progress of developments in vehicle automation. The key aim of the project is to focus on testing and demonstrating automated driving, by improving intelligent vehicle technologies, to cover a large set of traffic environments, not currently achievable. Hi-Drive enables testing of a variety of functionalities, from motorway chauffeur to urban chauffeur, explored in diverse scenarios with heterogeneous driving cultures across Europe. In particular, the Hi-Drive trials will consider European TEN-T corridors and urban nodes in large and medium cities, with a specific attention to demanding, error-prone, conditions. The project’s ambition is to considerably extend the operational design domain (ODD) from the present situation, which frequently demands interventions from the human driver. Therefore, the project concept builds on reaching a widespread and continuous ODD, where automation can operate for longer periods and interoperability is assured across borders and brands. The project also investigates what factors influence user behavior and acceptance, as well as understanding the needs of other road users interacting with these vehicles. The removal of fragmentation in the ODD is expected to give rise to a gradual transition from a conditional operation towards higher levels of automated driving. With these aims, Hi-Drive associates a consortium of 41 European partners with a wide range of interests and capabilities covering the main impact areas which affect users, and the transport system, and enhance societal benefits. The project intends to contribute towards market deployment of automated systems by 2030. All this cannot be achieved by testing only. Accordingly, the work includes outreach activities on business innovation and standardization, plus extended networking with the interested stakeholders, coordinating parallel activities in Europe and overseas.