Whether you are cruising around town in a robotaxi, getting groceries dropped at your door via driverless delivery services, or moving cargo around ports on self-driving trucks — applications of autonomous vehicles (AVs) are impacting a growing number of sectors.
AV technology promises more safe and accessible urban mobility options and lower emission transport networks. Yet, with the United States and China leading the field when it comes to implementing the technology, Europe has been playing catch-up.
Now a unique training is empowering European decision-makers, private firms, researchers, and others to understand the potential of AV technology, its current applications in leading markets, and its future prospects. EIT Urban Mobility’s Marco Fuliotto, Professional School Business Development Manager, explains, “It’s not your standard training where you go there and sit and receive a lesson — it’s a different concept.”
A unique training initiative for European stakeholders
Developed by EIT Urban Mobility in collaboration with Espaces-Mobilités, following interest sparked by videos from the Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) YouTube series among decision-makers in Belgium, the online and in-person AV course offers unique access and insights into some of the world’s most advanced centres for the technology.
A highlight of the course are the international study trips, bringing public and private sector stakeholders from Europe to leading centres like San Francisco where they can experience first-hand how AVs have been deployed on public roads. San Francisco was an interesting case study for the course participants to learn, on the ground. The city permits AVs to operate without safety drivers and by the end of 2023 robotaxi companies like Waymo had deployed hundreds of driverless vehicles in the city, making it an ideal site to observe what may be coming to Europe. For study trip participants it makes for an exciting, eye-opening experience.
“You’re really visiting the technological companies that everyone is talking about. They are at the cutting-edge globally, and you get access to them,” reports Fuliotto. For European urban mobility stakeholders, the tours create the opportunity to engage in face-to-face discussions with key individuals in the field. Course participants met with engineers from Waymo, Cruise or Imagry and gained insights into the latest technology and the very individuals building it.
Anticipating the challenges of AV implementation
Being prepared for the wide-scale deployment of AVs is about more than just understanding its technology; it’s also about understanding the legal, social, and infrastructural aspects necessary to lay the crucial groundwork for more sustainable urban mobility and urban planning. The rise of AVs is increasingly bringing nascent discussions to the fore; begging the question of how to communicate on issues around implementation and potential backlash. “It’s not only to prepare a legislative framework but also a mental framework, to be ahead of time, to understand that this is coming and how they can manage this transition,” Fuliotto says.
The strategy of the study trips goes beyond accessing the companies that have implemented the technology, such as Amazon and Tesla, and interacts with the public sector as well. For example, the first tour to San Francisco included meetings with officials from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the California Department of Transportation who are overseeing AV implementation. CEO of Espaces-Mobilités and Coordinator of the Mobility Masterclass, Xavier Tackoen, explains, “The Mobility Masterclass Study Tour in the US was an invaluable experience for our participants. It offered a firsthand look at cutting-edge mobility solutions and fostered meaningful connections with industry leaders, but it also allowed Belgian transport practitioners to have time for high-level discussions.”
For decision makers, especially those who might have never seen or tried AVs themselves, the study tours can spark a sense of urgency in preparing for the potential radical changes that AVs could bring about. Fuliotto recalls participants attitudes when reflecting on their experiences, “[They said], ‘we are not ready for this, and we need to be ready for this’… That is exactly what we want to achieve: changing their mindset.”
Collaborative learning: sharing challenges and best practices
The innovative week-long study trips are complemented by pre-departure self-study materials and a post-visit masterclass to debrief and examine future scenarios. It is also an opportunity for networking and sharing best practices in order to solve shared issues. “We find that when we talk to cities or authorities across Europe, they have many of the same issues and problems, but they do not communicate much with each other. That is why we want to bring participants together.” explains Fuliotto.
“What is Brussels doing? What is Amsterdam doing? What is Madrid doing? The idea here is to not only go to the US, but also see what’s going on here in Europe.”
Following the success of the first study trip and a high level of interest in more courses like this, new tours are on the horizon. In August 2024, the study trip will return to the United States with an enhanced itinerary on offer, organised by EIT Urban Mobility in partnership with Espaces-Mobilités and ITS.be. This second iteration will offer participants visits to Google’s Data and AI teams, a test drive of Tesla’s ‘full self-driving system’, a tour in Waymo’s robotaxis, meetings with representatives of city and state authorities, and interactions key AI developers like NVIDIA.
Additionally, in autumn 2024, participants will have the opportunity travel to Hamburg where they will discover the latest technological advances in AVs and explore other inter-related topics.
The ambitious study trip is set to expand further with new destinations in 2025 with potential to include tours to Norway and China. Additionally, the programme may also expand to offer custom trips for companies, transport authorities, municipalities or national governments; focused on the mission of preparing Europe for the opportunities and challenges of AVs and their emerging roles in the future of sustainable urban mobility. The programme’s unique approach to hands-on learning continues to be its strength, and Tackoen of Espaces-Mobilités agrees, declaring “we believe this kind of immersive learning is crucial for driving innovation in urban mobility.”
