A pioneering pilot project to test teleoperation in public road traffic will begin at Düsseldorf Airport in May 2026. In a collaboration between the mobility service provider Rheinbahn, the technology group Rheinmetall, and the software developer Mira, specialized shuttle vehicles will be deployed on the route between the long-distance train station, the EUREF Campus, and the airport terminal.
What makes this system special is its remote control: The vehicles move without a physically present driver and are instead monitored and controlled in real time by qualified personnel in an external control center. However, to guarantee the highest safety standards during the initial testing phase, a safety driver remains on board who can intervene manually in an emergency.
Further research highlights the technical complexity and regulatory framework of this project. The shuttles utilize state-of-the-art sensors and 5G mobile technology to ensure latency-free transmission of camera images and control commands between the vehicle and the control center. Rheinmetall contributes its expertise in military and large vehicle technology, while Mira provides the necessary software platform for remote control. The project is supported by the Ministry of Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, as it serves as a reference model for the integration of autonomous and teleoperated systems into the complex traffic environment of an international transport hub.
From an economic perspective, the trial aims to increase operational efficiency. The long-term goal is for a single operator to be able to coordinate multiple vehicles simultaneously from the control center, which would significantly reduce operating costs compared to conventional shuttle services. Düsseldorf Airport serves as an ideal testbed, as it features a confined space where various road users, from pedestrians to heavy delivery trucks, interact. The project is initially planned for a twelve-month period, during which comprehensive data on the reliability of the connection and its interaction with regular private traffic will be collected to lay the groundwork for later approval for driverless regular operation.
The introduction of this technology marks an important step in the digitalization of transport infrastructure in the Rhine-Ruhr region. If the pilot project at the airport proves successful, the project partners plan to expand the service to other enclosed areas such as factory sites or exhibition grounds. In addition to technical validation, passenger acceptance is also a key focus of the study. The airport operator expects the flexible shuttles to provide optimized connections between the EUREF Campus, a hub for energy and mobility innovation, and the existing rail network and the central passenger terminal.