Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHRFor nearly a century, the depot operations of German tramway systems have undergone little change. All vehicle movements are still carried out manually by staff, with operating services and shunting activities typically kept strictly separate. Trams are handed over at predefined transfer points, and washing or maintenance stations are approached manually. At an average depot, employees walk several kilometres per day and perform around 100 vehicle movements that are not related to passenger transport.
Automated Safety and Efficiency Through Advanced Sensor Technology
In the VALESTRA project, a system for automated valet parking of trams is being developed on the basis of state‑of‑the‑art sensor technologies. The objective is to make shunting operations safer, more efficient, and partially autonomous in the future. The regulatory foundation is provided by the German Tramway Construction and Operating Regulations (BoStrab), which define uniform signalling conditions for braking and driving operations. Building on this framework, an interface is being created that continuously monitors the hazard zone in front of the tram and autonomously initiates an emergency stop when required. The system employs a combination of radar and ultrasonic sensors. The Fraunhofer Institute for High‑Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR is responsible for developing the radar sensing components, which capture the operational environment with high precision and robustness.
VALESTRA contributes to a substantial reduction in workload at tram depots, enhances operational safety, and paves the way for partially autonomous tram operations.
Project Partners and Funding
The consortium is led by Fraunhofer FHR and includes indurad GmbH (Aachen), Tbmoto GmbH (Oranienburg), and the Chair of Integrated Systems at Ruhr University Bochum. The project is funded by the European Union and the State of North Rhine‑Westphalia within the EFRE/JTF Programme NRW 2021–2027.
Project start: 1 May 2025 Project end: 30 April 2028
