The JRC has opened its research sites in Italy and the Netherlands to external companies for the testing of future mobility and digital energy solutions.
The JRC is partnering with external companies for the testing of smart city concepts, turning two of its sites into ‘living laboratories’.
With over 400 buildings, 36 kilometers of internal roads and 2000 staff, the JRC’s Ispra site provides a city-like testing environment.
The first experiments kicked off in September, when a research team of the SARA (Search And Rescue Aid and Surveillance using High EGNSS Accuracy) project funded by the European GNSS Agency performed field tests of innovative drone systems for search, rescue and surveillance purposes.
The semi-autonomous tethered drones deployed as part of the SARA project are instrumental in solving the operational range challenges currently faced during search and rescue missions.
On this first occasion, JRC scientists also investigated the potential of drones in traffic monitoring.
In the next months, project consortiums will be testing various smart city technologies, such as smart charging stations, automated droids, automated vehicles and robo-taxis.
The living laboratory initiative aims to promote the creation of high-quality, user-centred smart city solutions for the future.
A call for expressions of interest is open until 31 December for other private and public organisations that are interested in testing smart city concepts inside the JRC facilities.
