Status Conference 2024 – CAPTN shows off

For the fourth time, participants of the CAPTN Initiative met to exchange ideas and update each other on the latest developments in their projects. A first: Nine different stations with posters, where discussions were held in depth and with great enthusiasm. Researchers and company representatives stood by their respective boards to talk about topics such as object recognition and sensor fusion, logistics, communication and remote control, design, sensor technology, as well as digital twins and simulation.

Following a brief welcome by the scientific spokesperson of the CAPTN Initiative, Prof. Dr. Dirk Nowotka, a pitch session took place. In this session, various CAPTN experts had the opportunity to present their projects and the results achieved so far. Jan Bachmann (FuE-Zentrum FH Kiel GmbH) presented the CAPTN Fjord Area, Prof. Dr. Olaf Landsiedel (Kiel University) introduced CAPTN Fjord 5G, Prof. Dr. Frank Meisel (Kiel University) also spoke on CAPTN Förde 5G, while Prof. Dr. Dirk Nowotka (Kiel University) talked about CAPTN Flex. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Olaf Landsiedel represented Prof. Dr. Sven Tomforde (both Kiel University) in the introduction of the new project CAPTN X-Ferry.

Afterward, representatives of the working groups introduced their posters and topics for the discussion sessions at the stations. After about one and a half hours of engaging discussions and lively exchanges, the exhibitors briefly summarized the poster sessions and the key future questions that emerged from them.

The scientific morning was followed by a political afternoon. After a fifteen-minute speech by Julia Carstens, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Labor, Technology, and Tourism (MWVATT) of Schleswig-Holstein, Kathrin Reinicke (KiWi) moderated a panel discussion on the future of (autonomous) mobility in Kiel. The panel included Prof. Dr. Dirk Nowotka, Prof. Dr. Björn Christensen, President of Kiel University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Detlef Rhein, Industrial Design at Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts, Doris Roloff (Head of Department at MWVATT/Department of Technology, Tourism, and Marketing), and Andreas Weidner, Managing Director of Anschütz GmbH.

The participants at the poster stations, in the audience, and on the panel all agreed: We have already achieved a great deal. Now, it is time to take the next steps and implement autonomous shipping in Kiel.