Work Package 1 – Overall concept, user requirement specifications, field testing, evaluation
As WP 1 project lead, LVB has assumed responsibility for elaboration of an overall/operating concept that analyses and describes how the use of automated shuttles in commercial operations can be realised within the scope of a designated Flexa area. At the same time, building upon the findings of this analysis and on the results and identified challenges of the ABSOLUT I project, a catalogue of requirements is to be derived for the current project. This task, along with the elaboration of corresponding functional and product specifications, is to be managed by the chief engineer employed at LVB, in close consultation with all other consortium partners.
On the basis of the created documents, the deliverables are to undergo extensive testing towards the end of the project. The methodical approach is to be based on the so-called V model as presented in the German engineering guideline VDI 2206. In this model, which originated in the domain of software development, required functionalities are described in ever greater detail on the left-hand side in order to define the technical design specifications. Corresponding test cases on the right-hand side serve to verify and validate the specifications. At the end of the process, the individual outcomes and subsystems are integrated in a functional overall system. Supervision and monitoring of the system integration is likewise a task of the chief engineer. The responsibility for actual testing in WP 1.3 lies with the LVB operations manager appointed in accordance with regulatory ordinance BO Kraft. In addition, LVB will be assigning further specially trained staff to act as operators and safety drivers for the tests. Preparation, supervision and evaluation of the tests is to be entrusted to the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK) as an external commission. To this end, HTWK will already be involved in determination of the user requirements and in the elaboration of product and functional specifications within the framework of WP 1.2.1 – 1.2.3. The supervision of work in connection with the testing is to remain the responsibility of LVB. This form of collaboration was already used successfully in the predecessor project ABSOLUT I, during the course of which a comprehensive testing and test reporting system was established. This system is now to be modified slightly to allow its continued use in ABSOLUT II.
At the end of the project ABSOLUT II, conclusions will be reached, together with the project leadership and consortium members, on the technical maturity of the system in respect of a subsequent transition to operational use within LVB.
Contributing partners with their individual tasks and objectives:
- Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (WP leader, elaboration of user requirements specification and test concept, operational testing)
- HTWK Leipzig (external commission for test development, validation of the results from project partners, and supervision and validation of test implementation)
- All project partners: Collaboration in the determination of user requirements and elaboration of functional specifications