Digitalisation and automation experiments with transport enable experimentation with different development ideas in real operating environments, but they also produce valuable information for decision-making and future transport systems. Recent testing has involved semi-automatic truck platooning and dissemination of up-to-date traffic disruption data. Work has been done with time data related to ships docking in port, and an automatic bus and a couple of other automated vehicles are currently travelling in Pasila, Helsinki.
The purpose of transport automation experiments is to develop user-oriented services and solutions that will facilitate and streamline everyday life. The practical experience gained from the experiments provides first-hand information on how digitalisation and automation of transport can benefit society and business.
Learning from trial results is very important when preparing for future transport needs and services. The information obtained from the experiments can be utilised in decision-making as well as in national and international cooperation. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, is involved in several projects experimenting with automation and digitalisation.
"We are happy to support and participate in innovative experiments that have the opportunity to create new operating models and services for our ever-changing society. Good Ideas can also be shared more extensively, and the nature of many of the pilot projects is such that they are already involved in international cooperation, "says Jarkko Saarimäki, Deputy Director General.
Sparring over automatic driving requirements and concrete granting of test plates
In the FABULOS project (External link), three remotely controlled automatic vehicles travel with normal traffic in Pasila, Helsinki. Traficom has been involved in sparring over the requirements of the experiment and has granted test plates to enable the experiment.
"Traficom's role in testing automatic driving is to enable the use of new technology in public transport without forgetting traffic safety and to generate new information about automatic driving and its impact," says Chief Adviser Reijo Jälkö.
Different bodies sharing up-to-date traffic information
The purpose of the experiment to test the collection and sharing of information on road traffic conditions and disruptions is to facilitate the everyday life of those travelling on the road, to improve safety and create smoother traffic flows by utilising information related to road traffic more extensively.
"Our intention was to bring together different service providers through an experiment. We presented the services of 18 service providers, divided into three groups of companies, who are participating in the experiment and the exchange of information between them to Finnish, Nordic and European experts and decision-makers, "says Senior Officer Michaela Sannholm.
The project video (External link) shows more about testing the sharing of information on road traffic conditions and disruptions. The evaluation of the impact of the experiment from the perspective of service users' approval, technical functionality, ecosystems, business models and social economy will be completed at the end of the year.
Cooperation to promote up-to-date time data in maritime logistics
The Time Data Group (External link), consisting of maritime operators, piloted the production and sharing of more up-to-date time data related to port visits by vessels through a shared interface implemented by VTS Finland. The management model for time data sharing and the related motivation factors are also the subject of a current thesis. Traficom has been the leader of the group that relies on close cooperation between the parties. There are about 30 organisations involved in the time data work.
"At the moment, the time data needed by maritime logistics actors is dispersed and does not correspond to their needs in all respects. Our intention is to find out what kind of model works in Finnish conditions,” says Development Manager Katariina Kalatie.
Increasing understanding of the benefits of automating heavy transport
The Platooning Finland project (External link) studied the opportunities for, and the prerequisites and impact of platooning, the use of semi-automatic convoys of heavy goods vehicles, in Finland. Traficom was a representative of the authorities in a joint Nordic project, the NordicWay2-project (External link), that is part of the European Union funded Connecting Europe Facility.
“The experiments with convoys give an increased understanding of how digitalisation and automation of heavy goods traffic can promote more efficient and environmentally friendly transport,” says Eetu Pilli-Sihvola, Head of Analysis and Trials.
Enquiries:
Verkottunut ja automatisoitunut liikenne
Head of Analysis and Trials, Eetu Pilli-Sihvola, tel. + 358 29 534 5572, eetu.pilli-sihvola (at) traficom.fi, Twitter @EPilliSihvola (External link)
Alina Koskela, Special Adviser, tel. + 358 46 921 9460, alina.koskela (at) traficom.fi, Twitter @alina_koskela