News and events

Autonomous steering system keeps human drivers engaged

Published:31.01.23 — Researchers from EPFL and JTEKT Corporation have developed an automated driving system based on the concept of ‘collaborative steering’, which aims to increase transportation safety, efficiency, and comfort by encouraging active interaction between autonomous vehicles and their human drivers.

UrbanTwin: seeing double for sustainability

Published:16.12.22 — A consortium of Swiss research institutes, led by EPFL, has begun working on UrbanTwin to make an artificial intelligence driven and ecologically sensitive model of the energy, water and waste systems of the town of Aigle. The aim: to help boost sustainability.

“Google Earth on steroids” gives a boost to urban development

Published:13.12.22 — Uzufly’s technology uses aerial imaging to generate 3D models of cities and regions with advanced precision, enabling urban planners to incorporate full-scale designs of all types of architectural and urban structures.

A high-speed metro in the Swiss Alps?

Published:08.11.22 — A new EPFL-University of Lausanne project led by Prof. L. Laloui (LMS) and Prof. M. Jaboyedoff (ISTE) is to explore the potential of high-speed transportation in the mountains to promote sustainable alpine tourism and help regional communities remain viable and help slow ever-increasing urbanization. As the populations of our cities continue to swell, often at the expense of regional communities, EPFL and the University of Lausanne (UNIL) have begun researching potential solutions to connect alpine communities to high-speed transport routes in the most sustainable way possible.

Lightweight, ultra-connected seaborne containers

Published:05.10.22 — The composite containers developed by AELER, an EPFL startup, deliver better performance across the board: they’re stronger, have a bigger payload, are better insulated, allow for enhanced tracking and can help cut carbon emissions. More than 60 of the containers are currently crossing oceans around the world, and the firm hopes to grow this number substantially starting next year. 

Giant wheel used to test a linear motor

Published:31.08.22 — Summer series – Master’s project (10). Jérémie Pochon has built a test bench for evaluating the type of motor that could one day drive the Hyperloop transportation system.

Transforming concentrated solar light, heat and water into hydrogen

Published:24.08.22 — Researchers at the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering (LRESE) and the Group of Energy Materials (GEM), at EPFL’s School of Engineering, have demonstrated a high-temperature electrolysis reactor transforming concentrated solar light and water into hydrogen. By using high temperatures (> 700°C), the reactor requires no rare and expensive materials for the electrochemical reaction. This integrated approach has the potential to reach solar-to-fuel efficiencies larger than that of conventional non-concentrated, solar-driven electrolysis approaches.

Making Intelligent Traffic

Published:02.08.22 — Summer Series – Bachelor’s project (5). Delivering sustainability in traffic is no easy feat. Could software that globally coordinates cars to avoid traffic jams and congestion be the answer?

Monitoring city mobility from the skies

Published:13.07.22 — EPFL researchers have used swarms of drones to measure city traffic with unprecedented accuracy and precision. Algorithms are then used to identify sources of traffic jams and recommend solutions to alleviate traffic problems.

New laser helps LiDAR for driverless cars

Published:21.06.22 — An international collaboration team of EPFL and Purdue University has developed a hybrid integrated laser that may help the next generation LiDAR for the automotive industry.