Instituto de Telecomunicações is stepping to the forefront of smart and autonomous mobility with ROUTE 25 - an Agenda for Autonomous, Intelligent, Interoperable, and Inclusive Mobility, led by Capgemini Engineering. This large-scale strategic project is investing in advanced technologies to transform the way autonomous vehicles, infrastructure, and people interact, paving the way for safe autonomous driving.
Live Demonstrations in Aveiro
On September 17, Aveiro hosted the public presentation of prototypes developed under the project, as part of the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Week.
Coordinated by the Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT), these demonstrations marked a milestone in Portugal: the first collaborative maneuvers between autonomous vehicles, along with real-time interactions with pedestrians and cyclists, showcasing how instant communication can directly improve road safety.
According to Susana Sargento, our senior researcher: "Today was a historic day for Aveiro and for autonomous mobility. It was a unique real-world demonstration of the future of mobility, where vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians communicated with each other to improve everyone’s safety."
The event brought together consortium partners (see here) and public figures, including the Mayor of Aveiro, Eng. Ribau Esteves, Councilman Dr. João Machado, and representatives from Civil Protection, National Defense, and Infraestruturas de Portugal.
"The Instituto de Telecomunicações, as a key partner in the project and leader of the large-scale demonstrators, had the opportunity to test in real conditions its mechanisms for extending autonomous driving with 5G and other communication technologies, as well as with virtual and augmented reality, using its two autonomous vehicles", notes Susana Sargento.
A Strategic Investment for the Future
Launched in October 2022 and running until September 2025, ROUTE 25 represents an investment of over €51 million, of which €32.5 million is funded by the PRR – Next Generation EU program. Its scope extends beyond connected cars and buses to include drones, robots, industrial machinery, and telecom networks.
At its core, the project addresses crucial questions: How will Portugal position itself in the global mobility revolution? Will it merely adopt innovations, or lead the way in building a new data-driven, AI-powered, and sustainable economy?
With over 60 researchers from IT, universities, and leading companies, including Vodafone Portugal, NOS, CTT, EFACEC, NORS, and Beta-i, ROUTE 25 builds a robust collaborative network pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Expected Impacts
As Susana Sargento concludes: "ROUTE 25 is far from finished. Beyond advancing these demonstrators into product-ready solutions, IT is already tackling new challenges such as 5G-based remote driving, integration with digital twins, and more."
Visit the photo gallery of the Demo Day: