The emerging market of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles requires cost effective, high accuracy (i.e. centimetre to decimetre level) navigation systems, with the most important but also most challenging and safety-critical feature: high reliability (i.e. capability of achieving high accuracy under all kinds of environments). Nevertheless, Current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Camera based Computer Visual navigation systems are limited in terms of accuracy, reliability and/or affordability, which is strongly preventing a faster development of these new business sectors. VRTK solves these needs by offering a unique method to enhance the accuracy and reliability of traditional positioning and navigation methods. We demonstrate a deep integration of computer vision and high accuracy Real Time Kinematics (RTK) GNSS position technologies which provide high reliability of cm-accuracy in all outdoor environments-big potential to be extended indoor in a next stage. It will become a real market-creating innovation unlocking the potential of several emerging markets as listed above and a game-changing technology to make autonomous vehicles safe and affordable for everyone.

Energy ECS “Smart and secure energy solutions for future mobility” will focus on the interface of energy and mobility as well as related ICT and electronics. Central for today’s society, these two sectors are facing the restructuring of technology and business value chains that enable the emergence of completely new business models and ecosystems. The project concept builds on six use cases that represent different angles of future mobility and energy; enablers of new logistics modes, energy independent intermodal transport, charging technologies and opportunities, grid stability responding to bi-directional charging, and enablers of safe autonomous driving. The technology developments respond to a long list of MASP major challenges and include e.g. battery charging electronics, grid and sensor power management, energy harvesting, real time location controls and sensors. The R&D will also apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, immersive technologies, IoT, ultra-low power technologies, advanced algorithms and software. All technologies will be designed for cyber-security and reliability. The consortium includes 16 SMEs, 8 LEs and 6 RTOs from 8 countries. The complementary capabilities allow R&D results that lead to new competitiveness of the partners. By 2030, the project is expected to generate increased turnover by over 1 B€, increased market share and/or market leadership for 24 partners, 130+ new collaborations, 300+ new jobs and 10+ M€ of additional investments. The consortium with half of the partners being SMEs forms a squad of challengers, agile and hungry to grasp the huge business opportunities that emerge in the convergence of the two sectors, supported by large companies fostering the immediate business volume and carefully selected RTOs. The consortium nucleates a new ecosystem of strongly interlinked value networks, the impact towards European competitiveness, growth and innovation capabilities ranging far beyond 2030.