MODI Project

MODI is a European cross-border initiative to accelerate the introduction of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility solutions to significantly improve logistic chains, set to Kick-Off in November 2022. The MODI project will demonstrate automated heavy-haul vehicles use cases on the motorway corridor from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to Moss in Norway, crossing four national borders and establishing terminal operations at four different harbours and terminals en route. Automated transport will significantly contribute to improving European transport and logistic chains. The MODI research project will make substantial steps toward identifying and resolving barriers preventing this from coming true. Introducing innovative, connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) can lead to many positive societal effects, such as safer and more efficient transport everywhere and for everyone. In mobility, the logistics sector is unique because of the scarcity of heavy truck drivers, the pressure to reduce costs and the high utilisation of vehicles compared to private passenger transport. Therefore, profitable business cases as a consequence of the automated vehicles for the logistics sector are already very likely. Even though the development of automated transport is accelerating, there are still many hindrances to overcome before we see a full-scale introduction of such transportation. These are related to the maturity of the technology itself but also to regulations, harmonisations, and social acceptance. The hindrances escalate when considering border-crossing transport.