Researchers from several scientific institutions in Baden-Württemberg have jointly refined a driverless vehicle concept that adapts quickly and automatically to different tasks as part of the U-Shift II project. It builds on earlier U-Shift projects, in which the basic principle had already been presented. The mobile platform can autonomously pick up and set down various superstructures – known as ‘capsules’. This will make mobility more flexible, efficient and sustainable in the future. The latest generation of the concept was unveiled on Thursday 18 June 2026 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the presence of Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Skilled Trades and Tourism in Baden-Württemberg. Ulm University was also involved in the project.
The potential applications are wide-ranging: from on-demand services in local public transport and delivery services to mobile services in Medicine or temporary accommodation. The concept of consistently separating the vehicle from its function was developed at the Institute of Vehicle Concepts at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and has been continuously refined across several projects at the DLR for a number of years.
“Innovation is the key to tomorrow’s automotive value creation. This is precisely why the U-Shift II project is so important for small and medium-sized enterprises. With its focus on technology transfer and the targeted involvement of SME partners, this research and development project specifically reinforces the future viability and competitiveness of the automotive industry in Baden-Württemberg in the field of autonomous and connected driving,” says Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Skilled Trades and Tourism.
“We no longer want to build vehicles for just one purpose,” says Professor Kora Kristof, Vice President for Digitalisation and Sustainability at KIT. “A vehicle that adapts flexibly to different tasks saves resources, is a building block for sustainable mobility and creates new opportunities for Baden-Württemberg as a centre of mobility.”
“In the U-Shift II project, we have gained many new insights to advance modular, automated vehicle concepts and the associated technologies. Through this research, we are supporting the automotive sector and laying important fundamentals for putting such innovative mobility ideas into practical use and preparing for their transfer to the roads,” summarised Professor Meike Jipp, Executive Board Member for Energy and Transport at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
A flat driveboard at the heart of the concept
A key element is a flat driveboard housing the central technical components, such as the electric drive system with four wheel-hub motors, the batteries, the steering system and central functions for control, monitoring and power supply, all of which were developed at the Research Institute for Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines in Stuttgart (FKFS). The driveboard moves autonomously under the capsule suitable for the task at hand, lifts it and locks it into place. No human intervention is required.
“You can think of the principle as being similar to a swap body: instead of building each vehicle from scratch, the technology remains the same – only the bodywork changes,” says Dr Michael Frey from the Institute for Vehicle Systems Engineering (FAST) at KIT. In particular, FAST developed the chassis with an integrated lifting mechanism, which enables the autonomous picking up and setting down of the capsules without the need for additional infrastructure. “In principle, a single parking space is sufficient for both the capsule and the vehicle,” explains Frey.
Technology that adapts
When picking up a capsule, the vehicle connects digitally with it. “Thanks to its flexible technical architecture, the vehicle can adapt its function depending on the application,” says Professor Eric Sax, Head of the Institute for Information Processing Technology (ITIV) at KIT, where the vehicle’s electronic and software-based ‘control centre’ was developed. This system networks and controls the various vehicle functions and capsule technologies. Functions and sensors automatically adapt to the respective capsule, for example when transporting people or delivering goods. New software can be installed wirelessly, much like a smartphone update.
Safe on the road, precise when docking
The vehicle uses sensors such as cameras, radar and lasers to detect its surroundings. The sensor concept, as well as the systems for data processing and movement planning – which must operate with particular precision during docking – were developed by Ulm University. Together with the systems developed at the FKFS to implement these manoeuvres, this enables manoeuvring and docking manoeuvres with centimetre-level precision. A locking system developed at the DLR holds the capsule securely in place whilst the vehicle is in motion.
Strong research team from Baden-Württemberg
The U-Shift II project involves collaboration between KIT, the DLR, Ulm University and the FKFS. Project management and coordination are the responsibility of the DLR. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Crafts and Tourism has funded the project with 10 million euros. Of this, around 1.7 million euros went to KIT.
Text: Dr Felix Mescoli, KIT
Click here for the DLR’s press release on U-Shift!