Real world-Enhanced Assistance & ConTrol for Intermediate VEhicles – REACTIVE

To design the urban vehicles of tomorrow, the REACTIVE project relies on a rigorous methodology structured around four complementary pillars. Our approach combines controlled environment experimentation with real-world data analysis:

• Aerodynamics and Stability: We use wind tunnel tests and advanced numerical simulations to analyze how these light vehicles respond to wind and urban turbulence, ensuring maximum safety.

• Biomechanical and Physiological Analysis: The driver is at the heart of our research. Sensors measure human effort and fatigue to adapt the electric assistance in a smooth and natural way.

• Intelligent Energy Management: Through sophisticated control algorithms, the system optimizes in real-time the balance between muscle power and electric energy to maximize vehicle range.

• Real-World Validation: All developed technologies are integrated into a Human-Hybrid Light Vehicle (HHLV) prototype and tested in delivery and passenger transport scenarios to validate their effectiveness in the field.

This integrated approach, led by laboratories of excellence (LAMIH and PRISME), allows us to transform cutting-edge research into concrete solutions for sustainable mobility

The ultimate goal of the REACTIVE project is to overcome the technological barriers hindering the mass adoption of intermediate vehicles to sustainably transform urban mobility. The expected results are divided into four major areas:

• Enhanced Stability and Safety: The project aims to achieve a better understanding of aerodynamic phenomena to ensure that these light vehicles remain stable and safe, even at high speeds or in the face of unpredictable urban winds.

• Intelligent' Electric Assistance: One of the key results is the development of algorithms capable of perfectly synchronizing motor assistance with the driver's physical effort and fatigue, making the driving experience more natural and less strenuous.

• Optimized Energy Efficiency: By combining improved airflow penetration with smart battery management, the project aims to maximize the travel distance, offering a real and effective alternative to internal combustion engine cars for trips under 8 km.

• A Field-Validated Prototype: The project will lead to a concrete demonstration of REACTIVE technologies integrated into a Light Hybrid-Human Vehicle (LHHV), proving their viability for delivery services or passenger transport in the heart of cities.

The REACTIVE project is not limited to a one-off technical innovation; it is part of a long-term vision for the transformation of our cities. Beyond the validation of prototypes, the perspectives opened up by this research are major for the future of urban planning and the environment:

• A generalization of agile urban services: Eventually, the developed technologies will enable the massive deployment of versatile solutions, ranging from passenger transport (taxi-type services) to full integration into logistical systems for first and last-mile deliveries.

• Towards 'Zero Emission' cities by 2030: By removing the barriers related to the range and safety of light vehicles, REACTIVE becomes a concrete lever to help European metropolises reach their carbon neutrality goals.

• A new industrial standard: Innovations in aerodynamic control and intelligent human-effort management are intended to become standards for manufacturers of Human-Hybrid Light Vehicles (HHLV), thus facilitating their adoption by major players in global logistics.

• Reclaiming public space: By encouraging the shift from individual cars to ultra-compact modes of transport, the project opens the prospect of less congested, quieter cities where travel time is no longer wasted searching for parking.

REACTIVE is thus paving the way for a mobility where technology fades into the background in favor of a fluid, natural displacement experience that respects our living environment.

The shift towards sustainable energy is reshaping urban mobility. The shift towards sustainable energy is reshaping urban mobility. The REACTIVE project focuses on Human Hybrid Lightweight Vehicles (HHLV) with hybrid human-electric propulsion. These vehicles, some of which can reach top speeds of 80 km/h or more, address various mobility needs, such as taxi services, personal mobility, or last-mile logistics. The development of these vehicles is supported by different national and European initiatives.
Two barriers to adoption have been identified: cyclist fatigue and the dynamic behavior of the vehicle under real-world conditions (wind, overtaking by another vehicle). Therefore, the two project objectives are to develop an electric assistance system that accounts for cyclist fatigue (estimated using smartwatch measurements) and environmental conditions (wind, slope, etc.), as well as to design a driver assistance system that helps keep the vehicle in its lane in the event of aerodynamic disturbances.
We propose to develop a real-time estimator of aerodynamic forces and a nonlinear control law for lateral dynamics. Finally, we will adapt the algorithms used for energy management in hybrid vehicles in the automotive sector to HHLVs. The project will combine experimental tests on real vehicles, control law design, and biomechanical aspects while considering atmospheric conditions. To this end, aerodynamic and energy measurements under real-life conditions (turbulence, doubling) will be first carried out in the wind tunnel to study aerodynamic behavior. The next step is to synthesize a lateral control law and an assistance law to manage battery energy and human fatigue. Both algorithms will use an aerodynamic force estimator. The whole system will be tested and experimentally validated on a real vehicle.