Real-World Laboratories at KIT

ADMoS-Future investigates how autonomous mobility can contribute to a sustainable and resilient mobility system of the future. We analyze questions of acceptance, governance, and regulatory requirements both conceptually and empirically at multiple locations, such as in Karlsruhe and in the accompanying research for the iamo project in the Swiss Furttal region.

The Accessibility Real-World Laboratory investigates new approaches for how people with disabilities can participate in society without barriers. The focus is on topics in the areas of architecture, human-machine interaction, digital accessibility, and assistive technologies.

How can energy be generated in an environmentally friendly way and stored with minimal losses? What happens when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, and suddenly more electricity is needed? With these questions in mind, the Energy Lab investigates the intelligent integration of various energy generation, storage, and distribution options.

The Karlsruhe Real-World Laboratory for Sustainable Climate Protection (KARLA) brings climate protection closer to society and investigates selected climate protection measures on-site in five areas: climate-friendly business travel, climate protection in construction, skilled workers for climate protection, climate-friendly canteens, and car-reduced mobility and quality of life.

The Real-World Laboratory Quartier Zukunft – Labor Stadt (District Future – Urban Laboratory) investigates and tests together with people in Karlsruhe's Oststadt district how an urban neighborhood can be designed more sustainably in harmony with the environment. The focus is on the question of how we can live well in the city today and tomorrow while caring for our fellow beings, the environment, and future generations.

Within the framework of the Real-World Laboratory for Automated Bus Operations in Public Transport in Urban and Rural Areas (RABus), automated shuttle services were tested in real-world conditions on public roads. By the project's end, over 1,600 participants were transported on more than 430 test rides – in total, the shuttles covered around 2,100 kilometers.

The goal of the Robotic AI Real-World Laboratory is to experience artificial intelligence through diverse experiments in different real-world environments, such as in daycare centers, schools, museums, libraries, or hospitals. Humanoid robots – that is, human-like robots – help make artificial intelligence tangible in physical form.

Digital health applications promise significant improvements to the healthcare system. However, testing new products under real-world conditions is heavily regulated and hardly feasible, particularly for AI-based applications. ROUTINE aims to create framework conditions for the successful application of AI in healthcare.

Smart East is transforming the commercial district in Karlsruhe's Oststadt into an energy-optimized and climate-friendly neighborhood. From the digitalization of energy management to the development of more sustainable business models for the energy sector – the Smart East Real-World Laboratory tests and implements pathways toward an economically viable energy transition.

Autonomous driving plays an important role in sustainable and innovative mobility futures. At the Test Field for Autonomous Driving Baden-Württemberg (TAF BW), companies and research institutions can test future-oriented technologies and services related to connected and automated driving in road traffic.

In the Tiny House project, a tiny house for up to four people was designed and built at KIT's Faculty of Architecture in a collaborative project with the Friedrich-Weinbrenner Vocational School in Freiburg. As a particularly sustainable design, it allows for waste-free deconstruction and minimizes the use of environmentally harmful building materials.

The goal of the ERNIE Real-World Laboratory (Real-Time Decisions under Risky Non-Knowledge in Impact Prediction of Extreme Events) is to predict and analyze the effects of short-term extreme events as well as slow climate changes in interaction with society, the economy, and the environment in urban spaces. ERNIE is scheduled to start in 2026.