The driverless, electrically powered U-Shift vehicle concept defines a new type of mobility by separating the driving module from the transport capsule. In combination with various capsule types, the driving module can be used to transport both people and goods. Capsule changes are quiet, automatic and not tied to exchange stations. Special capsules enable different business models and applications – from on-demand buses to parcel delivery services. To ensure high cost and resource efficiency, expensive systems such as the complex technology for driverless driving are mainly housed in the driveboard. The U-Shift idea is being explored in various projects with different focuses, from research-intensive to industry-oriented.
In the U-Shift I project, a rollable driveboard mock-up, a passenger capsule for public transport and a micro depot as a cargo capsule were built to demonstrate the basic principle of capsule exchange. In addition, the U-Shift II project focuses on scientific issues with the development and manufacture of a research prototype. The focus is on automation and motion control, the chassis with individual wheel drives, a modular battery concept, a service-oriented E/E architecture, and lifting and locking mechanisms for capsule exchange. A public dialogue accompanies the technical development.
The U-Shift development was flanked by a nationally funded project, U-Shift III, in which selected technical details such as a novel lifting system and a high-voltage drive train were implemented.
In order to advance U-Shift along an industry-oriented development path, the U-Shift IV project, involving numerous industry partners from Baden-Württemberg, developed a fourth-generation U-Shift variant that was successfully used in an experimental operation at the 2023 Federal Horticultural Show in Mannheim, carrying up to 10,000 passengers over a period of 180 days. Furthermore, the U-Shift IV project will continue to promote technology transfer to industry, small and medium-sized enterprises and users such as cities and municipalities until the end of 2025. In addition, technical innovations will be developed for the Generation IV prototype in the areas of capsule replacement and chassis.
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