The “iamo – intelligent automated mobility,” project is testing an automated mobility service under real-world conditions in the Furttal region (Switzerland). Unlike conventional pilot projects, the vehicles operate on a regular basis on the public road network of an entire region. This creates a real-world laboratory in which automated mobility can be experienced as part of an existing mobility system.

The project aims to develop a deeper understanding of how automated mobility services can be designed and integrated into existing transport systems. The accompanying research deliberately shifts the focus away from the technology itself toward its societal integration: How is the service perceived? Who uses it – and who does not? What role do safety, trust, and service design play in actual usage and for changes in mobility behavior? The research therefore examines the societal, organizational, and institutional requirements for the future long-term regular operation of automated vehicles. A particular focus is placed on capturing the perspectives of different population groups and on explicitly including those who have not yet used the service.

At the core of the accompanying research is a panel study that continuously monitors the project over several years and systematically captures the perspectives of the local population. The study follows a multi-method approach, combining large-scale population surveys with qualitative formats such as expert interviews and focus groups involving relevant stakeholders. This approach makes it possible to analyze changes in mobility behavior as well as persistent barriers and prerequisites for the use of automated mobility services over time. By repeatedly surveying the same individuals, the panel study also provides a differentiated picture of learning processes, familiarization effects, and changing expectations regarding automated mobility. The accompanying research thus combines socio-scientific analysis with continuous feedback into the project by making interim results available for the further development of the service. At the same time, it contributes to a better understanding of real-world laboratories as long-term research infrastructures for studying socio-technical transformations.

This long-term perspective is central to real-world laboratory research. It shows how mobility innovations can be developed and scaled beyond the limitations of short-term pilot projects, thus providing important reference points for similar initiatives, particularly in Germany.

The accompanying scientific research is conducted by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in cooperation with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and in close collaboration with the Swiss Transit Lab and further project partners including the SBB and the Cantons of Zurich and Aargau.

Further information: www.iamo.swiss