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Innovation

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS
WITH ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN FUNDING

THE PIAGGIO GROUP IS PROMOTING FUNDING APPLICATIONS IN ITS REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND EUROPEAN OFFICES, CONFIRMING THE QUALITY OF ITS RESEARCH. OVERVIEW OF THE GROUP’S KEY PROJECTS, ILLUSTRATED IN THE 2016 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT.

REGIONAL PROJECTS: ADAM AND CENTAURO.

The ADAMo Project (Aerodinamica Digitale Adattativa per Motocicli – adaptive digital aerodynamics for motorcycles), presented under the regional program for ICT, Photonics, Engineering for advanced smart integrated components and systems (devices/manufactured goods/processes), was officially accepted in 2016 and work began in January 2017.

The project goal is to develop an active aerodynamics control system for motorcycles, which modifies aerodynamic flow according to operating conditions and required performance level, assisted by a special smartphone user interface (App). The members of the consortium (who must be companies and bodies headquartered in Tuscany) are the University of Pisa (data transmission systems), CUBIT (advanced innovation centre), RICO (development of electronic sensors), TELCOMMS (advanced communication systems), INFN (research body active in HPC development), PSM (prototyping and engineering).

The CENTAURO project (Colavoro, Efficienza e preveNzione nell’industria dei motoveicoli mediante Tecnologie di AUtomazione Robotica; means: coworking, efficiency and prevention in the motor vehicle industry through automation technologies), presented under the Tuscany Region’s FAR-FSC 2014 program has been approved. Coordinated by Piaggio, the project will develop robot automation technologies to:

  • reduce physical workloads for materials and goods processing and handling operators;

  • boost corporate efficiency and competitiveness by cutting the time needed for selected production processes;

  • reduce the environmental pressure of production processes by raising the percentage of light factory waste in differentiated waste collection.

The project began in 2015. The partners are the Istituto di Biorobotica of the Scuola Superiore S. Anna and three fast-growing small Tuscan companies, Robot System Automation, Roggi and Robotech.

INNOVATIVE ROBOTICS INFRASTRUCTURES
VIDEO ON ITALY’S ONLY "ROBOTIC INNOVATION FACILITIES" AREA (SOURCE: SANT’ANNA MAGAZINE).

EUROPEAN PROJECTS: HORIZON 2020 AND CEF (CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITIES).

Work began in 2015 on the first European projects approved under the Horizon 2020 –Smart Green and Integrated Transport programs. Piaggio as project leader presented the RESOLVE project (GV5-2014 program) and is a partner on the eCAIMAN project (GV1-2014 program). Piaggio is also a member of the consortium on the i_HeERO project (CEF program).

INFO: www.resolve-project.eu

The RESOLVE project (Range of Electric SOlutions for L-CAtegory VEhicles), approved under the H2020 - GV.5-2014 program for electric two-wheelers and new light vehicle concepts, is coordinated by Piaggio, with the participation of KTM, Marelli, Bosch, Ricardo, as well as leading universities and research centres (University of Pisa, Florence, Warwick, Idiada). RESOLVE is funded under the European Green Vehicle Initiative and was set up to develop electric powertrains whose efficiency and sustainability will be demonstrated on two electric vehicle prototypes with four tilting wheels, respectively for the L2 and L6 categories. During 2016 the vehicle architecture was developed and the electric powertrains and the vehicles themselves were designed. In December 2016 the project was presented for the mid-cycle technical/administrative control by the Officer designated by the European Commission in Brussels, with a successful outcome.

INFO: www.egvi.eu

Also as part of the European Green Vehicles Initiative (GV1-2014 program-Next generation of competitive lithium ion batteries to meet customer expectations), approval has been given to the eCAIMAN project - Electrolyte, Cathode and Anode Improvements for Market Near next generation of Li-ion Batteries.
The aim is to develop a new generation of Li-ion batteries offering improved performance with respect to those currently on the market, and guarantee technological, quality and cost standards that are competitive and feasible at European level. Ultimately, the project output should be available for use, in the automotive sector, by all European OEMs. Project work formally began at the end of April 2015 and will continue for three years (2015-2018). The project is coordinated by the Austrian Institute of Technology, and is a global group of 15 partners.

INFO: http://www.ecaiman.eu

Piaggio is a member of the consortium working on the i_HeERO project, coordinated by ERTICO, for the third implementation stage of the eCall emergency call system in Europe.

INFO: ertico.com/projects/i_heero-infrastructure-harmonised-ecall-european-pilot

The project began in November 2015 and finishes in 2017. Piaggio is playing an active part in the development work, specifically:

  • on the P2W cluster, together with other two-wheeler constructors, to identify the minimum requirements for an eCall system suitable for motorcycles;

  • on the Italian pilot site, to test the eCall system in Italy and check its compatibility with the national emergency system architecture and the infrastructure of the European 112 number, in cooperation with partners Telecom Italia, Autostrada del Brennero and the emergency centres of Lombardy (AREU, Varese) and the Trentino (CUE, Trento) for Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) management.

i_HeERO Project

In 2016 approval was given to the FUTURE-RADAR project, which will support the European (ERTRAC) technological platform (European Road Transport Research Advisory Council) and the European PPP “Green Vehicle” initiative, to create and implement research and innovation strategies for a sustainable, competitive European road transport system. The goal of the project is to support the European Commission in setting guidelines and research themes in the area of Road Transport. Piaggio is the main interlocutor for the two-wheeler sector.

INFO: www.egvi.eu/projectslist/161/37/FUTURE-RADAR

INFO: www.ertrac.org