The Interior Design of Research Demonstrators for Modular and Urban Last Mile Applications

Abstract: Modularity is the smartest way to fit our vehicles to various specific needs optimizing on the materials, energy demand and user comfort. Therefore, we want to introduce human centered design approaches on our modular vehicle concepts: The Urban Modular Vehicle (UMV) and the U-Shift.The concept of the UMV vehicle family combines various derivatives for different use-cases. The UMV vehicle family consists of driver-controlled vehicles and automated movers for transporting people and goods.The UMV Peoplemover (PM) 2+2 is a derivative based on the UMV platform and is made for the automated transport for up to four occupants, which are sitting in a 2+2 vis-à-vis seat configuration. The Interieur of the UMV PM 2+2 includes luxury door covers with ambient light and four ergonomic singleseats with a large footwell. Because of swing doors that open on both sides without a conventional B-Pillar, there is a large entrance area. For the communication between the occupants and the vehicle and for the identification of passengers, there are displays implemented in the doors and below the roof.In addition to the UMV PM 2+2, there is the UMV Dualmover, which is intended for the combination of standing passenger and goods transport. Due to the different functions of this derivative, the interior can be customised to fit the needs of the current usecase. Due to the variable interior, the vehicle can transport standard package sizes and people with folding seats. Other derivatives with the same external dimensions as the Dualmover are the Peoplemover (large version), the Cargomover (large version) and the Hop On & Off, which is designed for very easy entry and exit.Another strategy for an electric, modular and automated concept is the U-Shift. It consists of the U-shaped Driveboard and different capsules as a loading unit. The Driveboard includes everything what is needed for (automated) driving like electrical drivetrain, steering, lifting system and automation system with sensors. With the lifting system, the Driveboard can lower itself, move into position, and the load the capsule via a rail system. The possibilities for capsule versions are infinite: passenger transport, cargo, garbage, supermarket, etc. The focus here will be the interior of a person capsule. Target was a prototypic but close-to-production implementation of a capsule for public transport. The seats are located on each side of the overhang of the capsule over the Driveboard, so there are three ergonomic seats left and right vis-à-vis and one at the front, orientated backwards. A space for a wheelchair is located in the rear end. This overhang allows an entrance on the right-hand side, which is equipped with a standard bus swing door and an automated ramp for wheelchairs. Big window areas ensure a good light incidence. In a workshop with disabled persons, some possibilities for improvement came up: Better positioning of door buttons, handrails at stairs, color highlighting of handrails, standard bus grabpoles, buttons with haptical feedback and seatbelts for every seat.Biggest difference to the first version is the implementation of a safety driver’s workplace. Due to security reasons, the safety driver has to stand in order to make it not too comfortable and ensure full attention. Only comfort is a motorized adjustable backrest. All the necessary input devices like joystick and control panel are arranged around the safety driver. Monitors on the left and right give him back view and view around the A-pillar.ReferencesU-Shift: https://www.dlr.de/de/fk/forschung-transfer/projekte/innovative-fahrzeugkonzepte/u-shiftUMV: https://www.dlr.de/de/fk/forschung-transfer/projekte/innovative-fahrzeugkonzepte/urban-modular-vehicle-umv Münster, Marco und Scheibe, Sebastian und Osebek, Manuel und Siefkes, Tjark (2022) Modulares Fahrzeugkonzept für die Mobilität von morgen. ATZ Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift (124), Seiten 16-21. Springer. doi: 10.1007/s35148-022-0906-4 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s35148-022-0906-4>. ISSN 0001-2785. Münster, Marco und Scheibe, Sebastian und Osebek, Manuel und Kopp, Gerhard und Hahn, Robert und Siefkes, Prof. Dr. Tjark (2022) Fahrzeugkonzepte für die Mobilität von morgen Vehicle concepts for the mobility of tomorrow. In: ATZlive Automatisiertes Fahren 2022. Springer. 8. Internationaler ATZ-Kongress: ATZlive Automatisiertes Fahren 2022, 2022-04-05 - 2022-04-06, Wiesbaden, Deutschland. Münster, Marco und Kopp, Gerhard und Friedrich, Horst und Siefkes, Tjark (2020) Autonomes Fahrzeugkonzept für den urbanen Verkehr der Zukunft. ATZ Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift, 122 (122), Seiten 26-31. Springer. doi: 10.1007/s35148-020-0216-7 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s35148-020-0216-7>. ISSN 0001-2785.

Keywords: Interior, Modular, urban, last mile, prototype, demonstrator, inclusion, automated driving, electric driving

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006528

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