The adoption of robots in lower volume, diverse environment is heavily constrained by the high integration and deployment complexity that overshadows the performance benefits of this technology. If robots are to become well accepted across the whole spectra of production industries, real evidence that they can operate in an open, modular and scalable way is needed. ODIN aspires to fill this gap by bringing technology from the latest ground breaking research in the fields of a) collaborating robots and human robot collaborative workplaces b) autonomous robotics and AI based task planning c) mobile robots and reconfigurable tooling, d) Digital Twins and Virtual Commissioning and e) Service Oriented Robotics Integration and Communication Architectures. To strengthen the EU production companies’ trust in utilizing advanced robotics, the vision of ODIN is: “to demonstrate that novel robot-based production systems are not only technically feasible, but also efficient and sustainable for immediate introduction at the shopfloor”. ODIN will achieve this vision through the implementation of Large Scale Pilots consisting of the following components: - Open Component (OC): A small footprint, small scale pilot instance allowing the development, integration and testing of cutting-edge technologies. - Digital Component (DC): A virtual instance of the pilot implementing an accurate Digital Twin representation that allows the commissioning, validation and control of the actual pilot - Industrial Component (IC): A full-scale instance of the pilot, integrating hardware (HW) and software (SW) modules from the Open and Digital components and operating under an actual production environment. - Networked Component (IC): An integration architecture with open interfaces allowing the communication of all robotics HW and control systems through safe and secure means. ODIN will demonstrate its result in 3 Large Scale Pilots in the automotive, white goods and aeronautic sectors.

Hi-Drive addresses a number of key challenges which are currently hindering the progress of developments in vehicle automation. The key aim of the project is to focus on testing and demonstrating automated driving, by improving intelligent vehicle technologies, to cover a large set of traffic environments, not currently achievable. Hi-Drive enables testing of a variety of functionalities, from motorway chauffeur to urban chauffeur, explored in diverse scenarios with heterogeneous driving cultures across Europe. In particular, the Hi-Drive trials will consider European TEN-T corridors and urban nodes in large and medium cities, with a specific attention to demanding, error-prone, conditions. The project’s ambition is to considerably extend the operational design domain (ODD) from the present situation, which frequently demands interventions from the human driver. Therefore, the project concept builds on reaching a widespread and continuous ODD, where automation can operate for longer periods and interoperability is assured across borders and brands. The project also investigates what factors influence user behavior and acceptance, as well as understanding the needs of other road users interacting with these vehicles. The removal of fragmentation in the ODD is expected to give rise to a gradual transition from a conditional operation towards higher levels of automated driving. With these aims, Hi-Drive associates a consortium of 41 European partners with a wide range of interests and capabilities covering the main impact areas which affect users, and the transport system, and enhance societal benefits. The project intends to contribute towards market deployment of automated systems by 2030. All this cannot be achieved by testing only. Accordingly, the work includes outreach activities on business innovation and standardization, plus extended networking with the interested stakeholders, coordinating parallel activities in Europe and overseas.

IVORY - ‘AI for Vision Zero in Road Safety’ is an industrial doctorates network aiming to develop a new framework for optimal integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in road safety research, and train a new generation of leading researchers in the field. It addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 3.6 and the EC Vision Zero strategy, of halving traffic fatalities by 2030 and eliminating them by 2050. IVORY addresses the lack of common understanding of the challenges and opportunities of AI for road safety by means of 4 research goals: it aims to develop (i) responsible, fair and impactful AI for road safety, (ii) new ways of road user support and human-vehicle-environment interaction, (iii) new scalable and equitable AI technologies for proactive infrastructure safety management, (iv) a sustainable knowledge sharing network on AI for road safety. IVORY outputs will not only provide more robust user support through AI in vehicle automation, but will also allow to responsibly and proactively manage the persistent problems of existing conventional, low-automation transport systems, so that new opportunities for global road safety impact can emerge. Moreover, IVORY takes a design-for-values approach for AI in road safety, operationalising the ethical principles of justice and explainability, and providing efficient AI solutions also for disadvantaged groups (e.g. vulnerable road users, low-to-middle-income countries). IVORY consists of 4 academic and 6 non-academic beneficiaries, and 12 associated partners, joining from engineering, data science and ethics of technology disciplines, from 11 countries. 13 young researchers will receive high-level doctoral education, industrial exposure, local training, and 8.5 ECTS of network-wide training on key advanced, core and transferable skills. IVORY will create an on-line learning & networking platform for AI in road safety, to be available after the end of the project for future researchers in this field.

SYNERGIES confronts pivotal challenges within the CCAM community, such as the absence of interoperable scenario databases, time-consuming and expensive development cycles, and regulatory ambiguities. It achieves this by implementing the Safety Assurance Framework developed in HEADSTART and SUNRISE. SYNERGIES furnishes stakeholders with interoperable, federated scenario databases, incorporating data from Safety Pool Scenario Database™, ADScene, StreetWise, VV Methods, L3Pilot, Hi-Drive, and more. This facilitates standardized processes, streamlines development cycles, and ensures regulatory compliance. To accomplish this, SYNERGIES will culminate in a European platform designed to enhance the development, training, virtual testing, and validation of CCAM systems. The SYNERGIES Platform comprises a Scenario Dataspace, aligned with Europe's approach to data sharing and competitiveness, and a Marketplace, ensuring continual updates and Dataspace scalability. Furthermore, SYNERGIES encourages the inclusion of new initiatives into the scenario dataspace by offering the requisite tools and guidance, from data processing and scenario identification to scenario database governance. This presents a unique opportunity to amplify investments in research and development, consolidating Europe's leadership in CCAM development, all while prioritizing safety and data protection.

ZEvRA's main objective is to improve the circularity of light-duty EVs throughout their entire value chain, from materials supply and manufacturing to end-of-life (EoL) processes, which aligns with the European Union's goal of achieving zero CO2e emissions by 2035, particularly in the EV value chain. To do so, ZEvRA will develop a Design for Circularity (DfC) methodology and a holistic circularity assessment aimed at improving the production of electric vehicles (EVs) based on the 9Rs. This methodology will be validated by developing zero emission solutions for the most important automotive materials, covering > 84% material mix: steel, three versions of aluminium (wrought, casting, and foam), thermoplastics composites (long and continuous fibre-reinforced), unfiled/short fibre plastics, glass, tyres and Rare Earth Elements (REE). These solutions will be supported by a set of digital tools to support the manufacturing of the use cases, the assessment of circularity, traceability, and the virtual integration of components into a full replicable vehicle. To maximise the outreach of our methodology and zero emission solutions, ZEvRA will develop a dedicated training & upskilling programme for the automotive workforce and academia, together with activities aimed at increasing awareness & acceptability of the proposed zero emission solutions. Lastly, circular business models targeting EoL and logistics aimed at improving the economic feasibility of circularity in EVs are advanced. ZEvRA’s innovations aim to improve zero emission approaches in the life cycle and value chain of at least 59% of European EVs by 2035 through the 5 OEMs and Tier 1’s that are part of the consortium, which includes industry and academia covering the entire automotive value chain.