Following the successful implementation and validation of the VITAL procedure for single junction control in Braunschweig, Halle and Nohra in suburban and rural areas respectively, the Hamburg test field represents the first use of VITAL in an urban environment. The conditions therefore differ primarily in terms of proximity to and thus interaction with the neighbouring traffic light systems. There are also special requirements for pedestrians and cyclists.
The K94 junction (Rentzelstraße / Schröderstiftstraße / An der Verbindungsbahn) is available as a test junction on the so-called Test track for automated and connected driving (TAVF) in Hamburg. The junction is a highly frequented intersection in Hamburg's urban area and is located only around two kilometres north-west of the main railway station. Both the loss-time-based and the cooperative method are to be implemented and tested at this junction in the course of 2020. This will be followed by a long-term validation until the end of 2021 to check the effects of the control systems on inner-city road traffic.
Another special feature of the Hamburg test site is the use of thermal imaging cameras as a detection technique, which are also being used for the first time for the VITAL procedures. In addition, the procedures are to be expanded over the course of the validation period. One example of this is the addition of real V2X information to the detection process. The TAVF offers ideal conditions due to its framework conditions - in particular the technical equipment and the increased number of V2X-capable vehicles, e.g. through real tests by other users.
Rentzelstraße/ Schröderstiftstraße/ An der Verbindungsbahn: junction interior
