Your Source for OPINA and Mobility News 7 min. read
Dear OPINA Community,
Welcome to the second edition of the OPINA newsletter, full of exciting news from OPINA, the Open Innovation Autonomous Vehicle Development and Testing Platform, and the public and private mobility sectors.
Updates From the Last Six Months
Driver in the Loop System is Operational!
The OPINA Platform is growing day by day, after the simulation equipment, the Driver in the Loop vehicle driving simulator has arrived on 09 March 2022. The equipment is for vehicle driving on a real-world road, traffic, and test track environment for evaluating the complex vehicle dynamics systems, ADAS and autonomous software components on a simulator environment. The simulator ensures evaluating the new vehicle dynamics, software components benchmarking analysis, active safety, and steering systems in a laboratory environment. It has a wide range of capabilities for simulating various industrial standard scenarios with IPG truck maker, full vehicle body, VR glasses or three computer screens with 6-axis movements and 360-degree display.
Workshops
OPINA Workshop for Future Technologies
The third OPINA workshop was held online on 23 February 2022. The Workshop once again brought together the communities who are working in the field of technologies such as, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Connected, Cooperative and Autonomous Mobility (CCAM). OPINA Workshop for Future Technologies hosted international thematic speakers from the European Commission and Connected, Cooperative and Autonomous Mobility Association (CCAM) and additionally, the workshop sessions held in the afternoon shed light on determining the expectations of potential users working in this field and elaborating the services to be provided within the scope of OPINA Platform and Cluster. Thematic OPINA workshops will continue so do not forget to book your seats by joining our database from https://www.opinaproject.com/join-us/.
Summits
Intelligent Transport Systems Summit 09-10 March 2022
Intelligent Transport Systems Summit (09-10 March 2022) organised by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Association of Turkey without considering profit, is the most comprehensive and content-rich event of our country in the field of smart mobility and digitalisation of transportation and moreover, it is a gateway to the world.
Important public and private sector representatives attended the summit with the aim to provide synergy and international cooperation in the sector. At the event, prominent projects in the field of ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) were exhibited, and start-ups had the opportunity to meet with industry experts and exchange views.
As the OPINA Project, we participated to the summit with our stand, and provided information about the OPINA Platform and Cluster to the participants who visited our stand in the field of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) and Intelligent Transportation Systems for two days. We are confident that our Platform and Cluster will continue to grow with new connections.
Meetings and Visits
Meeting with Renault
During the meeting with Renault on 18 January 2022, views were exchanged on the cooperation that will take place with the opening of the OPINA Platform. The main topics of cooperation were OPINA's support in subjects such as work on carbon footprint, partnerships on Horizon Europe Projects, collaborations on Big Data Analysis and electric vehicle energy/battery management systems. The representatives of Renault, Istanbul Okan University, OPINA and OPINA Technical Assistance Team attended the meeting.
We met with Vestel!
Vestel visited OPINA on March 21 at Istanbul Okan University. Within the scope of the visit, discussions were had about studies on the smart renewable energy management system, applications such as smart intersections and smart parks related to smart transportation, real-time tests, projects that can be developed within the scope of the "Patent Based Technology Transfer Call for Support" for Istanbul Okan University patents, and collaborations that can be developed during the trial stages of the platform. The meeting was attended by the VP of R&D at Vestel Mr. Burak Savak, Automotive & IoT Device Group Manager Mr. Gökhan İşler, Automotive HW Group Manager Mr. Levent Tüzün, İstanbul Okan University Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen, Faculty Member of Mechanical/Automotive Engineering Departments Dr. Orhan B. Alankuş and the OPINA Technical Assistance Team.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Mr. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut Visited OPINA
Head of the European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Mr. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and accompanying guests visited İstanbul Okan University to receive information about OPINA platform services and meet with the project executives and the project team on 09 March 2022.
The visit, started with a meeting with Prof. Dr. Mustafa Koçak, Rector of İstanbul Okan University. Afterwards, OPINA Project development phases and services were introduced to the European Union Delegation to Turkey with detailed promotional videos and presentations.
Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen (OPINA Senior Representative İstanbul Okan University, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences), Prof. Dr. Orhan B. Alankuş, (OPINA Operation Coordination Unit Director, Faculty Member of Mechanical/Automotive Engineering) Prof. Dr. Nejat Tuncay, Prof. Dr Tevfik Akgün, Assoc. Dr. Cihan Kıvanç and OPINA Project Technical Assistance Team attended the meetings.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Turkey Ms. Marjanne de Kwaasteniet Visited OPINA at İstanbul Okan University
While the preparations for the Open Innovation Autonomous Vehicle Development and Test Platform continues at full speed to provide OPINA’s Platform services, the interest of international science and technology community to OPINA increases day by day.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Turkey Ms. Marjanne de Kwaasteniet, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul Mr. Arjen Uijterlinde, and Innovation Attaché Mr. Rory Nuijens visited İstanbul Okan University to receive information about OPINA Platform Services and Clustering on 03 March 2022.
During the visit, OPINA Platform Services were presented by Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen (OPINA Senior Representative İstanbul Okan University, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Orhan B. Alankuş, (OPINA Operation Coordination Unit Director, Faculty Member of Mechanical/Automotive Engineering) afterwards, university officials and the Project technical team gave information about the OPINA laboratory, the studies that are carried out and the services to be provided through the infrastructure being established.
After the visit, guests were hosted at dinner by Mr. Bekir OKAN, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of İstanbul Okan University.
Automotive Suppliers Association of Turkey (TAYSAD) Visited OPINA
TAYSAD (Automotive Suppliers Association of Turkey), one of the partners of the OPINA Project, visited OPINA on 23 March 2022 at Istanbul Okan University.
During the visit, the latest developments and progress within the scope of the OPINA Project were shared with the TAYSAD representatives. Collaborations to be developed were evaluated, activities to be carried out for the case studies were planned, and planning was also made for TAYSAD members' support for and participation in OPINA.
The visit was attended by TAYSAD Vice President of the Board Mr. Berke Ercan, President of Automotive Technology Platform (OTEP) Mr. Ernur Mutlu, InfoTRON President of the Board Mr. Burak Pekcan, Istanbul Okan University Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen, Faculty Member of Mechanical Engineering/Automotive Engineering Departments Prof. Dr. Orhan B. Alankuş, Prof. Dr. Nejat Tuncay, Prof. Dr. Tevfik Akgün and OPINA Project's Technical Assistance Team.
İstanbul Okan University BIGG STEP Program
TUBITAK provides 450,000 TRY support with BIGG, for entrepreneurs to bring their business ideas to life in the thematic areas of “Intelligent Transportation” and “Health and Good Life”!
With BIGG STEP, Istanbul Okan University is among the Implementing Organisations of the TUBITAK 1512 Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support Programme in the thematic areas of “Intelligent Transportation” and “Health and Good Life”.
Entrepreneurs who are accepted to the BIGG STEP Programme with the theme of "Intelligent Transportation" will be able to access the infrastructure to be established in the OPINA Project as well as the networks of which İstanbul Okan University is the only member in Turkey such as ERTICO - Intelligent Transportation System Networks (ITS Europe), as well as other networks such as EGVIA - The European Green Vehicles Initiative Association, BEPA - Batteries European Partnership Association and CCAM - European Partnership on Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility with strong international partners and stakeholders. Anyone with a technology-focused business idea could apply to the BIGG Programme as Students, Academicians, Industry employees, provided that they were willing to build their own enterprise and had the qualifications specified in the TUBITAK 1512 Techno-Initiative Capital Support Programme.
BIGG-STEP applications will end on 16 May 2022, but the new calls will be announced.
Up Next!
We will be at ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo
ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo returns to Stuttgart, Germany – Europe's most influential hub for automotive innovation, research, and development – between 21-23 June 2022!
We as OPINA will participate in the Expo as an exhibitor and OPINA Senior Representative and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Istanbul Okan University, Prof. Dr. Semih Bilgen will attend as one of the guest speakers of the conference programme.
You can visit us at our stand no 6536 to get more information about OPINA Platform Services and Cluster.
The fourth workshop of OPINA will be held in July 2022. The details will soon be on our website. www.opinaproject.com
News From Our Partner Projects
Reciprocity Project third newsletter filled with exciting mobility news is out! Click here to read it.
MODALES Project
MODALES proposes a user-centric approach to addressing all of the challenges which on the one hand enhance low-emission practices and on the other hand suppress high-emission behaviour by researching, developing and testing a number of innovative and complementary solutions in four key areas (namely, Driver, Retrofits, EOBD and Inspection) in order to substantially reduce vehicle emissions from three main sources (i.e. powertrain, brake wear and tyre wear).
MODALES vision is to substantially reduce air pollution from all types of on-road vehicles by encouraging adoption of low-emission driving behavior and proper maintenance choice.
OPINA has launched its social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! Follow them for real-time updates about the Platform and Cluster as well as upcoming events and highlights from the AV, ADAS and CCAM vehicles.
Feel free to DM or comment with any questions or thoughts and please help spread the word to your colleagues and friends.
Follow OPINA and Join the Conversation!
OPINA is funded by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) II budget for Action 2: Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Activity and Topic 2.1: Research and Development and is implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology with Okan University as part of the Competitive Sectors Program.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Consortium led by WYG Türkiye and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey.
