CORDIS Archive

KEY ACTION 3: LAND TRANSPORT AND MARINE TECHNOLOGIES

SOCIO-ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The strategic aim for the land and marine transport sectors is to develop the technological infrastructure for the supply of future transport means and concepts. The overall aim is to support the expected growth in transport demands in a sustainable manner (covering urban, inter-urban and marine environments) and to maintain and consolidate the competitive position of the European road, waterborne-based, rail and intermodal supply industries. Measurable benefits to be brought by this key action are also linked to significant reductions in energy consumption and large increases in overall safety, reliability and availability. The objective should also be to prove commercial viability of technological solutions for a customer acceptable and integrated European transport system. For the maritime industry there are additional objectives of strengthening its economic and operational base though increased systemic innovation spanning the complete supply chain, since 50 to 80% of shipbuilding added valued is generated outside the yard.

The research effort will be considered and organised around (a) the development of critical technologies and (b) their integration and validation around advanced industrial concepts in order to attain the following main deliverables:

Improved fuel efficiency and reduction of emissions:

Contribution to the reduction of 30% in CO2 emissions for new car fleet average, 20% for rail vehicles and 15 % of marine vessels by 2008 to 2012 time period against the 1995 state of art technologies for consumption of equivalent classes; Development and validation of Zero Emission Vehicles, and Equivalent Zero Emission Vehicles capable of market deployment by 2005/2010; Pass-by noise targets : 70 dBA for automobiles, 74 dBA for heavy vehicles based on standard homologation tests and reduction of 10 dBA in relation to present railway technology.

Improved performance:

For new and advanced vehicle, vessel and infrastructure concepts, improvements are sought of 30% to 50% in safety, reliability, maintainability, availability and operability. For railways increased reliability (by 25%) and availability (of 99% at peak traffic periods) is expected; Reference targets are reductions of life cycle costs and maintenance costs by 30%. For ships, sub-sea vehicles and marine infrastructure design improvements are sought to reduce time to market by 15-20%, and to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs by 30% to 40%. In the case of intermodal logistic interfaces, advanced concepts should aim at increased reliability, energy efficiency and adaptability while, significantly speeding up (up to 50%) logistic operations.

Improved system competitiveness:

Halving of time-to-market and of costs is expected for the development of vehicle concepts and main infrastructure components. Further improvements may be feasible through the full co-operation between manufacturers, component suppliers and sub-contractors; In the medium term, advances of practices in integration of design and production operations might lead to improvements in vehicle quality and reliability of about 50%.

Where appropriate, for critical technologies common to land transport and marine technologies, opportunities will be sought to exploit the potential added value for cross-sectoral research activities.

Critical technologies and technology validation and integration

The priorities are to optimise the benefits of European-wide RTD by recognising the need for an integrated approach around two major strands of work:

i) development of critical technologies, identified as providing the most effective leverage in the two main avenues corresponding to the objectives of the key action. For land transport, priority is placed on more efficient, intelligent, clean and safe vehicles. For marine technologies, priority is placed on more efficient, safe and environmentally ships and innovative marine technologies particularly for unmanned operations.

ii) technology integration and validation, is a fundamental element of the implementation of the key action with the coherent grouping of RTD projects around common strategic objectives. These targeted RTD activities will demonstrate the feasibility of attaining the strategic objectives of the key action. Such Technology Platforms (TPs) will bring together the necessary range of advanced technologies into project(s) aiming at demonstrating, at engineering concept level, their feasibility in achieving strategic key action objectives. They will bring together manufacturers, suppliers and other relevant stakeholders, with the task of developing and benchmarking engineering concepts for future vehicles, vessels, platforms components or systems whose functionalities will have to be demonstrated. In particular, integration and demonstration activities will be used to evaluate and further explore the potential of combination of technology packages in achieving economically viable alternatives of future land & marine transport concepts

I. DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES
-Ultra-low / Zero-emission -Structure, powertrain components -Noise and Vibration, Aero-dynamics	-Active & passive safety -Main -tenance -Whole life-cycle costs	-Efficient driving -Enhance mobility -In-cabin environ-ment	-Low eco-impact systems -Fluid dynamics -One-of-a kind design and manufacture -Safer, lighter & economic solutions	-Equipment for cargo handling and transhipment -Automated monitoring of systems and components	-Unmanned survey operation and remote sensing -Data links and control systems for off-shore operations
Economic, clean, intelligent vehicles	Innovative and safe vehicles	Human-vehicle interaction	Advanced ships and vessels	Use of the sea for transportation	Monitoring and exploration of the sea
II. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND VALIDATION 1. New land transport vehicle concepts; Enhanced systems efficiency 2. Advanced concepts for ships and vessels; competitive shipbuilding

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

I. DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES

3.1 Critical technologies for road and rail transport

This section will cover R & D work on innovative on-board land transport vehicle technologies and systems which are to be integrated into future concepts of vehicle, including on-board systems for traffic management and control, aiming at improved environment, mobility, efficiency and safety performance. Traffic management activities will be undertaken where appropriate in liaison with the programme for a user-friendly information society and will include the application and validation of related information and integrated information systems.

3.1.1: Efficient, clean, & intelligent road and rail transport vehicle technologies

This research target focuses on propulsion, new low weight material and vehicle concepts, low noise and vibration suppression and improved aerodynamic performance. Key words include: ultra-low and near-zero-emission vehicle propulsion systems, powertrain optimisation technologies, technologies for vehicle structures and components, for vehicle noise and vibration suppression, for improved vehicle aerodynamics.

3.1.2: Innovative and safe road and rail transport vehicle concepts

This research target seeks to achieve 30-50% overall safety improvement through development of safety-associated vehicle features and technologies. Keywords include: vehicles' passive and active safety, vehicles' preventive maintenance, reduction of whole life-cycle costs. The aim is to increase vehicle capabilities for accident prevention while minimising passenger and pedestrian injuries.

3.1.3: Human/vehicle interaction

The research activities, which should result in a safe and friendly environment for driver and passenger, will involve multidisciplinary engineering, cognitive science and ergonomics and will be targeted at the development of tools and components for on- board systems. Key words are: microelectronics, micro-mechanics, optics, sensing, actuating, controlling. The objective will be he integration of enhanced human/machine interface systems, which allow the most effective driver/vehicle interaction, ensure reliable operation, support efficient management, and improve in-cabin ergonomics and overall comfort.

3.2 Critical marine technologies

The goal is to improve complex vessel and platform production and exploration processes through the development and application of new technologies and tools into multi-application marine environments. This should pave the way for the improvement of design methodologies and best practice at EU level.

3.2.1: Efficient, safe and environmentally friendly ships and vessels

Research will target at improved concepts for ships and vessels, and European approaches for concurrent and multi-site design, engineering or production specific to maritime industry. Key words are design technologies, manufacturing, decommissioning or dismantling, materials, powertrain and on-board systems linked to safety, clean environment and efficient marine operations.

3.2.2: Maximising interoperability and vessel performances

Research will target at improved concepts and innovative European approaches for vessels and port infrastructures, for reduction of operating costs, improvement of manoeuvrability of ships in restricted waters and ports, and efficient cargo handling and transhipment. Key words are: integrated technologies for fully automated vessel concepts, for effective vessel operation, maintenance and on-board monitoring, modular transhipment technologies.

3.2.3: Innovative technologies for the monitoring, exploration and sustainable exploitation of the sea

Research will seek to develop innovative technologies to ease accessibility to marine resources especially in difficult areas and conditions and facilitate the investigation of potential resources and monitoring of the sea and sea-bed (10). Activities would therefore focus on innovative technologies in particular for unmanned surveying and in-situ monitoring and industrial operations in the sea.

II. TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS

3.3 TP 1: New land transport vehicle concepts; Enhanced systems efficiency

The aim is the integration and validation of energy-efficient, ultra-low and near-zero emission, intelligent powertrains running on conventional or alternative fuels fulfilling requirements of maintanability, durability and manufacturability at competitive costs.

In the case of the hybrid/electric vehicles, the aim will be to demonstrate that emission free operation could be delivered via affordable, safe, reliable, and effective technical solutions.

The TP will cover the integration and prototyping of environmentally friendly vehicle technologies for improved efficient and significant reductions of gaseous (CO2, NOs, CH, etc.), acoustical emissions, vibration and noise, as well as improvement of electro-magnetic compatibility supported by design, engineering and manufacturing tools.

Expected results will be validated powertrain systems with minimised environmental impact, allowing for enhanced efficiency, increased reliability and safety .

The integrated technological solutions would assist industry in showing the feasibility of innovative propulsion concepts and operational control at the vehicle level. They will explore and resolve conflicting trade-offs of contributing vehicle technologies.

3.4 TP 2: Advanced concepts for ships and vessels; Competitive shipbuilding

This system-configured ship concept deliverable will be the base for the integration of maritime related technologies and should bring together shipyards, suppliers, ship owners, operators and port authorities within the task of developing test elements in virtual or preferably real format whose functionalities will be demonstrated and proved under real operating conditions. RTD should help to demonstrate streamline and seamless vessel development processes and systems through application of the latest digital design, visualisation and prototyping techniques. This platform should also support advanced production systems which can improve ship manufacturers' customer response, product quality, manufacturing process flexibility and control, all major determinants of manufacturing competitiveness. Set against demanding constraints such as environment, work force situation, relative cost of production and material availability, it is essential that the new and/or improved processes for producing component parts and/or assemblies are properly matched with targeted efficiency and safety gains as well as product performance and environmental requirements.

3.5 TP 3: Enhanced design and manufacturing for road vehicles.

The effort will aim at integrating all necessary technologies to exploit multidisciplinary and concurrent approaches where different aspects of vehicle system engineering and their associated cost structures are converging. RTD should support the development of future vehicle concepts realising targets of safety, environmental impact, intelligence, reliability, maintenance and comfort. The activities would focus on the integration and prototyping of tools, methods, systems, structures and organisational aspects for the supply of high quality, low cost vehicles. The approach will attempt to deliver methodologies and systems of production geared towards increased productivity, flexibility and quality of vehicle developmental processes.

3.6 TP 4: Sustainable and modular train

The aim will be the development and prototyping of new technological concepts and relevant systems that would lead to the new generation of railway vehicles which are both more environmentally friendly, as well as, cost and operationally efficient. The strategic approach will attempt to reconcile "top-down" system engineering approaches to product development with "bottom-up" problem-oriented technical activities aimed at solving significant service and operational questions. Aspects of sustainability and modularity have to effectively comply with the principles of intermodality, mass customisation, and flexible customer response. Activities are expected to combine at system level user requirements, systems' architectural design and life-cycle cost guided by cost-benefit analyses; at operational level, product certification procedures and operational management practices; at technical level, integration of key rolling stock technologies and systems such as propulsion, on-board automation, structures, dynamic performance systems, at cabin environment noise and vibration.

3.7 TP 5: Safe, efficient and environmentally friendly vessels and platforms

The activity will support integration of critical technologies in delivering optimised concepts for safer, environmental-friendly and more efficient vessels and platforms. The goals to be fulfilled are:
a) shortening the cycle for transport and handling of passengers, cars and rolling materials;
b) improving the safety and realising the environmental impact during the transport and handling of dangerous cargo;
c) improving the safety and comfort of passenger and comfort of passenger transport;
d) developing new technology concepts for short sea, inland and polar shipping and validating the integrated solution they may provide;
e) improving the efficiency of production and off-loading of floating structures for oil and gas;
f) improving the efficiency of service, rescue, combating and assistance in case of calamities and other operations which support transport activities, the exploitation of resources at sea, coasts and inland as well as maintenance of related infrastructures;
g) improving and/or upgrading existing means and systems to prolong life time, enhance economic efficiency and operability, adjust for new or enhanced needs and comply with recent statutory requirements on safety, environmental protection and working conditions for new buildings, conversions, life time lengthening etc of existing ships and platforms.
For the rapid up-take of results, effort will be concentrated on fast vessels for passengers, cars and cargo; deep sea ships mainly for passengers and unit cargo, deep sea floating structures for production storage and off-loading of gas; unmanned, autonomous and remotely operated survey vehicles; new concepts for short sea shipping and polar shipping.

3.8 TP6: Efficient interoperability and transhipment

Effort will be concentrated on integrating technological advances delivered through critical technology research for advanced concepts for unitised cargo and for ship types operating in coastal, restricted and limited waters. Due consideration should be given to the integration of supporting measures needed for these ships and infrastructure aspects of maintenance, storage, distribution and assistance. The strategic aim is to provide demonstrable optimised concepts of use of multimodal cargo units reinforcing intermodal links with special emphasis on easing, improving and facilitating cargo flows between inland and sea.

STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES FOR THE DECEMBER 2000 PERIODIC CALL

The call will be closed for RTD, demonstration and combined project proposals, but all research objectives will be open for Thematic Network and Concerted Action proposals.

STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES FOR THE JUNE 2001 PERIODIC CALL

All research objectives will be open for Thematic Network and Concerted Action proposals.

For RTD, demonstration and combined projects, the call will be open for all technical areas defined under objectives:

• 3.1 "Critical technologies for road and rail transport", and
• 3.2 "Critical marine technologies"

and for Technology Platforms:

• TP1 "New land transport vehicle concepts; Enhanced systems efficiency" and
• TP6 "Efficient interoperability and transhipment".

(10) As a general guideline, proposals dealing with the monitoring and forecast of sea status and environmental related issues should be submitted to "Sustainable marine ecosystem". Proposals relating to technologies in the field of management of hydrocarbon reserves, as well as exploration and production technologies for hydrocarbons should be addressed to the key action "Economic and efficient energy for a competitive Europe."