Electronic Components and Systems (ECS) are so central to the mobility transformation and Europe should deliver the right ECS and be instrumental in creating more efficient, convenient, and environmentally friendly mobility solutions for the future.  The need for European ECS sovereignty and ownership is not just a matter of economic competitiveness, but also a matter of strategic importance for Europe’s long-term success and security. Well aligned with this mission, ShapeFuture drives innovation in fundamental ECS that are essential for robust, AI-enabled decision making, resilient automation and computing, as well as communications in highly automated vehicles. Its overarching vision is to bring ECS Innovation at the Heart of Europe’s mobility transformation, thereby elevating sovereignty by perfecting programmable ECS solutions for intelligent, safe, connected, and highly automated vehicles.

The project’s main objectives are as follows:

• Increase the accuracy and robustness of ECS for perception – ShapeFuture designs, develops and implements new, reliable and enhanced on-board perception ECS with lower form factors and power needs.

• Attribute ECS with cognition features and improved Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) – ShapeFuture aims for ECS that mimics human perception. This requires specialized hardware and software, continuously learning from in-vehicle, infrastructure, and other connected vehicles’ data. A gamified driver monitoring system with ML will personalize interaction and support smooth human-machine learning.

• Deliver ECS with cognitive processing and decision-making features – ShapeFuture uses AI to analyse real-time data for accident prevention. Onboard, secure decision-making systems will be designed for areas like motion planning and driver monitoring, enabling safe interaction between driver and automation.

• Deliver ECS for resilient automation and communications – ShapeFuture delivers ECS with capabilities for increased safety, trustworthiness, and sustainability. To enable trustworthy automation, it proposes formal verification techniques to provide proof that given high-level requirements are satisfied for in any conditions. 

• Ensure technology acceptance and high impact – ShapeFuture forces Europe’s ECS industry to global leadership by integrating business models, training, and user needs with cutting-edge technology. It strengthens the value chain for ShapeFuture’s innovations, explores profitable exploitation paths, and develops innovative business models compliant with the European Chips Act. Additionally, a dynamic knowledge base and an AI-powered serious game ensure widespread awareness and pave the way for novel ECS features in European automation.

ITML’s role in the project

In ShapeFuture, ITML has a co-leading role in ensuring European control over embedded and cyber-physical systems technologies within the automotive sector. Our focus lies on measuring user acceptance, identifying key drivers for adoption, and facilitating smooth integration into the European market. This initiative aims to equip stakeholders with the necessary tools for sustainable economic development, thereby empowering them to leverage ECS innovations effectively.

On the technical front, we spearhead the analysis, design, and implementation of AI-based algorithms tailored for cognitive processing and decision-making in highly automated vehicles. Our tasks range from crafting system-level algorithms with an emphasis on trustworthiness and explainability to defining evaluation metrics and supporting integration efforts.

For more information, visit the official project website: https://shapefuture.eu/

Acknowledgement

The project ShapeFuture has received funding from the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and its members (including top-up funding by the National Authority of Cyprus, the Research & Innovation Foundation – RIF) under Grant Agreement No. 101139996. The project is co-funded by the EU within the framework of the Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021-2027”.