25 June 2026
The TRACE project has successfully completed Italian Pilot B, showcasing an innovative urban logistics solution based on cooperative cargo bike platooning and the TRACE collaborative logistics platform.
The demonstration was organised by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) through the HiperLab research group, in collaboration with the Municipality of Modena, with logistical support from URBICO and technical support from SPINITALIA for the development and sensorisation of the cargo bike prototypes.
Taking place in the city of Modena, the demonstration validated a realistic last-mile delivery scenario in which multiple connected cargo bikes cooperated throughout the delivery mission. Starting from the Diagonale Verde, the vehicles transported parcels while exchanging information in real time through the TRACE platform.
A major achievement of the pilot was the successful validation of the cargo bike platooning concept. The software stack developed by UNIMORE enabled connected cargo bikes to operate cooperatively through real-time communication and coordinated vehicle movements, demonstrating how collaborative driving technologies can support safer, more efficient, and sustainable urban logistics.
The pilot also validated several key technologies developed within TRACE, including:
- Vision System
- Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication
- Smart Autonomous Bike Driving System (SBADS)
- Bike Connection Box
- Onboard sensing technologies
- Real-time data collection and monitoring through the TRACE platform
In parallel, the TRACE Virtual Cockpit successfully received vehicle status information and live video streams from the cargo bikes, providing operators with enhanced situational awareness and enabling continuous supervision of the logistics mission.
Beyond the technical achievements, the demonstration generated significant interest among citizens in the historic centre of Modena. Numerous passers-by approached the project team to learn more about the technology, expressing enthusiasm for the possibility of seeing sustainable cargo bike logistics become part of future urban mobility.
The successful completion of Italian Pilot B demonstrates the potential of cooperative connected cargo bike systems to transform urban logistics by combining intelligent vehicles, real-time data exchange, and collaborative transport planning within a unified digital ecosystem.
As TRACE moves towards the conclusion of the project, demonstrations such as Pilot B continue to showcase how connected and sustainable logistics solutions can contribute to smarter, greener, and more liveable European cities.
Watch the official demonstration video of the Italian Pilot B and discover how TRACE enables cooperative cargo bike platooning for sustainable urban logistics.