Even before the start of the actual realization of MITC, consideration is given to further development. Together with the partners, the focus is on developing, among other things, a campus and a digicity.
At the same time, further development has already begun. For example, the upgrade of the DNW wind tunnel, part of the regional deal, was realized, tested and certified in 2023. The police training school has also joined MITC. In addition, construction of a temporary campus facility on the MITC site started in 2023.
In parallel, the current and future portfolio of MITC is being reviewed and refined. What does the smart mobility market need? Where is the demand now and in the future? These questions, linked to societal themes such as safety, digitalization, sustainability, and legislation and regulations, are what the partners focus on together.
Electric vehicles will grow rapidly in the coming years. Vehicles with autonomous functions and robots are emerging. The portfolio must be aligned with how these vehicles need to be extensively tested before they can be approved. This, combined with continued testing and monitoring of vehicles in areas such as emissions and cybersecurity throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle, may necessitate an acceleration of the further development of MITC in the following areas.
MITC Campus
In addition, work began in 2023 on realizing a temporary campus facility on the MITC site. Together with the MITC partners and the involved educational and knowledge institutions, a program is being established for educational development, knowledge exchange and research. The MITC campus will be a physical location and a knowledge hub where encounters are facilitated in an accessible way. Encounters with the talent of the future, but also with experts from the partners and customers of MITC, and entrepreneurs & start-ups that make use of MITC. By bringing students, professors and specialists from industry together, innovative insights and developments are expected to emerge. A perfect location to carry out real-time projects in the fields of hydrogen, robots, drones and autonomous vehicles.
Digicity: Centre for next-generation vehicles
The current testing offering of MITC will be expanded with a Digicity. A dynamically configurable simulated living environment that is ideally suited for testing a wide variety of traffic situations in an urban setting, connecting different forms of mobility, and capturing the human factor in driver-assistance vehicle systems. Legally, vehicles and drones will soon also need to be tested in a real-life environment. This concerns the behavior of the vehicle in conjunction with traffic situations and human drivers.
Emission laboratory / sustainability laboratory
In the future, the emissions lab will be able to measure not only vehicle emissions, but also noise from the engine and tires. Further development into a sustainability laboratory makes it possible to monitor the status of batteries under different temperatures and loads, and thus determine the accurate range of an electric vehicle. The performance of various sensors and cameras can also be assessed.
Urban Air Mobility
Within the DigiCity and Campus, NLR is developing an outdoor simulated urban environment where drone testing is made possible. This provides insights into the impact of drones on the urban environment and vice versa.
Simulation and Cybersecurity Centre
Research is being conducted into placing a simulator for Automated Lane Keeping Systems at RDW. Testing such a function is complex. Regulations are described at a high level, and various member states (vehicle authorities) are actively seeking harmonization in the tests to be performed and in approval procedures.
The Netherlands (RDW) is taking the initiative in this regard. Manufacturer simulators are not sufficient, and an independent simulator is required. This simulator should be located at MITC. Together with a facility where vehicles can be tested on various cybersecurity aspects, this creates an ultimate environment that can be used by RDW, CBR, the Telecom Agency, TNO, Tass, and of course Universities of Applied Sciences and Universities. Realizing a simulation/cybersecurity building for vehicles makes MITC unique in Europe.
A major societal challenge is the sustainability of society. We must emit fewer harmful substances and use fewer raw materials.
Both government and industry have a responsibility in this.
What does MITC offer the transport sector?
The use of vehicles generates particulate matter. This can originate from engines as well as from moving parts such as tires. MITC can calculate particulate matter generated by tire wear and, in the future, measure particulate matter from tires and other sources. The MITC sustainability lab can do this for vehicles as well as for runways. This makes it possible to demonstrate how much particulate matter production is reduced by using intelligent tires.
Aviation must catch up when it comes to particulate matter emissions. MITC models and measurement capabilities can help map the current situation and investigate how new developments can contribute to reducing particulate matter emissions and developing new regulations.
MITC has models to predict emissions in areas based on the number of vehicles and aircraft used in that area. There are also models to calculate emissions based on flight profiles, and expertise regarding the relationship between engine design and emissions such as CO₂ and nitrogen compounds.
Future vehicles and aircraft will communicate with each other (5G). This communication must be fast and reliable. At the same time, we want to be able to charge them wirelessly. This means signals must not interfere with each other or cause disruption. MITC has the knowledge and facilities to measure the influence of these signals (EMI/EMC).
MITC has facilities to measure noise, both in a wind tunnel and outdoors on a test track. In addition, MITC has techniques to measure noise sources, such as a car mirror, both in the air and on the road. With the MITC virtual noise simulator, we can let people hear what noise they will experience in a given environment when a car or aircraft passes by.
In the MITC Digicity, a simulated urban environment where mobility issues in urban settings can be researched, noise levels can be measured. Tests can also be conducted on noise-reducing measures.
MITC has various tools to predict noise. These can be used to assess the impact of noise mitigation measures, as well as to validate programs used for certification, such as VECTO.
MITC can perform noise tests for all common standards based on current regulations. The measurement and analysis capabilities of MITC can, for example, be used to develop and bring a quiet drone to market.
To make transport more sustainable, we are switching to alternative fuels and propulsion systems. There are many options such as electricity, batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, compressed air, solar cells, electric motors, and gas turbine engines for alternative fuels. For vehicles and small drones, developments are already well advanced. For trucks and aircraft, much still needs to be developed and tested, both to develop the technology and to demonstrate that it is safe and complies with all standards and regulations. For aircraft, for example, the question is whether an aircraft becomes too heavy when a new propulsion system is used.
MITC has a laboratory for testing hydrogen fuel systems and fuel cells. A large solar park will be built on the site, as well as a plant for producing green hydrogen. Facilities will also be created to test whether batteries can be safely installed and removed. Battery recycling will also be examined.
Increasing the sustainability of vehicle use is directly linked to reducing resistance. The shape and weight of the vehicle (or aircraft) determine energy consumption (fuel consumption). Designing for lower resistance and lower weight must be reflected in all stages of the vehicle development process.
This also applies across the entire supplier chain. Through NLR and DNW, MITC is involved throughout the entire chain for aircraft. It has the expertise to calculate the resistance of new configurations. These new configurations can then be tested in the wind tunnel to actually measure that resistance. The knowledge and expertise of NLR and DNW are directly applicable to road vehicles.
Noise is also a form of energy loss. This energy is therefore not used for propulsion. Making a vehicle or aircraft quieter can therefore also make it more efficient and certainly less disruptive to the environment. Measuring this noise is possible at MITC.
Lower weight can result from new, stronger lightweight materials. MITC is involved in developing new materials and can advise customers on this. In addition, MITC has the knowledge and technology to analyze the strength and lifespan of aircraft and vehicles, as well as the ability to inspect and test new materials and constructions.
Before a vehicle or aircraft can be used, it must be certified. MITC can perform certification tests and provide advice on certifying or qualifying vehicles and aircraft.
The knowledge and facilities of MITC can also be used to solve configuration issues, for example for modular vehicles.
Sustainable cars are made from sustainable materials. Materials that have a natural origin, cause minimal environmental impact during production, and are reusable after the vehicle is taken out of service.
MITC has expertise in composite materials and metals and conducts research into new recyclable materials. We have facilities to manufacture products from recycled materials. We can also advise on material selection based on reusability.
MITC also has models to perform life cycle assessments of different transport modalities (aircraft, train, and car) within Europe, within the framework of the circular economy.
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