Real-World Laboratories at KIT

ADMoS-Future investigates how autonomous mobility can contribute to a sustainable and resilient mobility system of the future. It focuses on conceptual and empirical questions regarding acceptance, governance, and regulatory requirements at multiple locations, such as in Karlsruhe and within 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 measures across 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 investigates together with residents of Karlsruhe's Oststadt district how to make an urban neighborhood more sustainable and environmentally responsible. It focuses on the question of how people can live well in the city while caring for fellow beings, environment, and future generations.

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.

Smart East is transforming Karlsruhe's Oststadt commercial district into an energy-efficient and climate-friendly neighborhood. From digitizing energy management to developing more sustainable business models for the energy sector, the Smart East real-world laboratory tests and implements solutions for 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.

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.