AQ-Shuttle: Autonomous Robots for Last Mile Delivery

As part of the AQ-Shuttle project, a feasibility study is being conducted on the use of autonomous neighborhood shuttles (AQ-Shuttle) in public transportation and sustainable neighborhood development in Bielefeld. Together with the municipal partners (City of Bielefeld, Stadtwerke Bielefeld), Bielefeld University of Applied Siences and Arts (HSBI) aims to test innovative mobility solutions and integrate them into the municipal policy Mobilitätsstrategie 2030, which strives to make Bielefeld more dynamic, sustainable, and livable. A particular focus is placed on promoting environmentally-friendly transport, reducing the share of private car use to 25 percent, and introducing new mobility offers. The study, running from January 2024 to September 2025, examines two central areas: (I) the use of autonomous goods shuttles to introduce new transport methods and (II) the establishment of a mobility station as a hub for existing mobility services. The Bielefeld population will be actively involved in the transition to new mobility offers. Citizens will not be obliged to use alternative services and leave their cars behind but should be motivated through participation concepts to make these decisions independently. The results of the study are intended to help sustainably transfer the AQ-Shuttle into practical applications and achieve the ambitious goals of the Mobilitätsstrategie 2030.