Future Transport Week – summary
Transport simulators, drone and mobile robot shows, virtual workshops, competitions and debates with scientists and experts - the Future Transport Week was held at the Silesian University of Technology. The event was organized as part of the European City of Science Katowice 2024.
The Future Transport Week was an opportunity to share the passion for modern means of transport and to engage participants in interactive learning about the latest and future solutions in road, rail and air transport. The event took place at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, some events were also planned at the Market Square in Katowice. It was attended by scientists, experts, students and pupils.
- Future Transport Week is one of the Science Weeks as part of the European City of Science Katowice 2024. It is a promotion not only of the city, but also of the science that is carried out in this city, and one of the important scientific centres there is the Silesian University of Technology. The event is an opportunity for scientists and practitioners to exchange experiences, but also to show science behind the scenes - said Dr Hab. Eng. Grzegorz Sierpiński, prof. of the Silesian University of Technology from the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering at SUT
On the first day of the event, on Monday, the Road Transport Day took place, and on subsequent days, interested parties could learn the secrets of other transport industries. – On Tuesday we will present rail transport, on Wednesday we will present air transport. On Thursday, we will show what a traffic engineer and urban mobility is. On Friday and Saturday, we will leave the walls of the Silesian University of Technology and show up on the Katowice Market Square, where we will show the work of our employees and students, their achievements and the effects of PBL projects - announced the events Dr Eng. Adam Mańka.
During the Road Transport Day, a Job Fair was held - Day with an Employer in Motor Transport, during which students could get acquainted with job offers in the industry.
During Monday's events, the results of the Motor Transport Knowledge competition were also announced. – Almost thirty secondary school pupils took part in it. The competition questions concerned broadly understood issues related to road transport, the transport of hazardous materials and electromobility - said Dr Hab. Eng. Damian Hadryś, prof. SUT, vice-dean for education at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering.
The Road Transport Day ended with a debate with the participation of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and representatives of the automotive industry entitled Transport of the Future. - The debate was entirely devoted to the future of road transport. We discussed new solutions in this industry, alternative fuels such as hydrogen and electric vehicles - said Dr Hab. Eng. Łukasz Konieczny, Prof. SUT, Vice-Dean for Infrastructure and Organization.
In parallel to the Future Transport Week, the 16th International Transport Problems Conference and the 13th Symposium of Young Scientists were held at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology. These events gathered scientists from Poland and abroad, engaged in research related to broadly understood transport issues. The conference was also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of simulators: cars, trains, planes, drones, gliders and urban traffic. The event made it possible to share the passion for modern means of transport and interactively learn about the latest transport solutions.
- One of the topics discussed during our meetings was ecology. It is known that transport is one of the sources of environmental pollution. We discussed experiences and new solutions in this area. Such an exchange is beneficial for all conference participants - said the conference coordinator, Prof. Aleksander Sładkowski.
As part of the 16th International Scientific Conference Transport Problems, there was also a study visit to the FCA SA factory in Tychy. The level of robotics in the factory was highly appreciated by scientists.
On the second day of the Future Transport Week, the Rail Transport Day took place. Visitors to the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering in Katowice could become passionate for railways and rail transport.
- We present the best equipment that students and scientists of our Faculty can use on a daily basis. We show what a driver's work looks like, how to drive a train, how to control railway traffic and what rules apply - explained Dr Eng. Adam Mańka, coordinator of the Week.
The simulators were presented by the students themselves. Among them, a first-year student of railway transport engineering, a railway enthusiast for years.
- I built this simulator myself. I tinkered and it worked. Today it serves not only me, but also other students of the faculty. The university gave me the opportunity to develop this project, for which I am grateful, said Józef Świder.
The student’s simulator is located in the same room as other equipment belonging to the Silesian University of Technology. The laboratory is also equipped with a model created by another student of the same field - Miłosz Cogiel.
- This model is the apple of my eye. We have been building it for seven years with my dad. It grew so large that there was no room for it in the house. The Silesian University of Technology allowed me to move the model here and I hope it will be possible to expand it with further solutions, said Miłosz Cogiel.
By presenting the laboratories, scientists and the students of the Silesian University of Technology wanted to raise interest in railways and present developing technologies in this field.
Entrepreneurs who took part in the so-called “A day with the employer” talked about the next phase of development of the railway industry. At the stands of companies from the railway industry, interested parties could learn about internship and job offers in companies that offer attractive development conditions in this industry already at the stage of studies.
- Rail transport is a type of communication that will develop in the coming years, at least due to ecological aspects. We believe that young people choosing education in this field are making the right choice - admitted Sebastian Wiśniewski, head of the tram driver training centre at Tramwaje Śląskie SA.
During the rail transport day, in addition to company presentations, there were also lectures and workshops. The lecture on solutions on the transport market in Morocco, as well as challenges and research on rail transport in the context of the region, was also very popular.
As part of the City-Region-Academy section, a debate was held entitled: "Katowice - a city of science and education for modern rail transport - goals, challenges, current research, new technologies."
On Wednesday, the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering hosted Air Transport Day. The event included classes on aviation simulators, a wind tunnel show and workshops related to air transport. The event was attended by scientists, experts, students and pupils of the last years of primary and secondary schools.
- The Silesian Voivodeship and the Silesian University of Technology are slowly becoming a leader when it comes to aviation education - pilots, mechanics and soon also air traffic controllers. Through events such as the Future Transport Week, we want to reach public awareness with the information that we have such an offer, educating in very elite and prestigious professions that guarantee young people to find a good job - said Prof. Bogusław Łazarz, Vice-Rector for General Affairs.
During the Air Transport Day, all topics and issues related to aviation were presented - said Dr Eng. Adam Mańka. - Droniada Junior and the international scientific conference Transport Problems were held at the same time - added the scientist.
The most popular among young people visiting the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering was the glider simulator, constructed by students of the faculty.
- Our simulator is based on a real glider that we bought after an air accident. We have adapted it to the role of a simulator, we have a special program built into it. When getting into our glider, we put on Google VR and thanks to this we can feel like a real pilot - says Michał Sujkowski, a third-year student.
The Air Transport Day ended with a debate of experts on aviation-related topics.
- There were three speakers during the debate. Dr Małgorzata Żmigrodzka from the Polish Air Force Academy, who raised issues related to the organization of air transport in relation to air alliances. The next speaker was Dr Eng. Natalia Drop from the Maritime University of Szczecin. This lecture may come as a surprise but remember that air transport cannot function on its own, which is why we are talking about integrity with other transport industries. The scientist spoke about the development strategy of European air carriers in the aspect of the EU's sustainable development policy. The last speaker was Prof. Piotr Niedzielski from the University of Szczecin, who raised issues related to the impact of digitalization on the air transport sector - said Dr Eng. Robert Wieszała from the Department of Air Transport.
During the Air Transport Day, simulators of unmanned aerial systems, adapted to the needs of aviation training at the Silesian University of Technology, were also presented. The simulators were prepared by the Unmanned Science Club, led by Prof. Marek Marcisz from the Department of Air Transport. The final of the Air Transport Knowledge Competition also took place.
The fourth day of the Future Transport Week was devoted to Traffic Engineering and Mobility of the Future City. There were classes on simulators and demonstrations of robots and laboratories related to traffic engineering, job fairs, competitions, virtual workshops on the organization of public transport and a debate entitled Katowice - a city with a modern transport system.
- Transport is one of the most important areas of research. It is difficult to imagine a city where there is no need to move or transport cargo. The specificity of infrastructure, transport, as well as the increasingly emerging traffic control centres, intelligent transport systems, video detection and advanced systems with variable message signs - result in a constant increase in market interest in traffic engineers. We are happy about this, because we have been implementing the teaching process in this area at the faculty for many years - said Dr Hab. Eng. Grzegorz Sierpiński, prof. SUT from the Department of Transport Systems, Traffic Engineering and Logistics.
Visitors to the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering on Thursday could learn what traffic engineering is, and simulators were waiting for those interested.
The Traffic Engineering and Mobility Day of the City of the Future ended with a debate entitled Katowice, the city of a modern transport system, led by Dr Hab. Eng. Grzegorz Sierpiński, prof. SUT – The debate was attended by representatives of the Katowice City Hall, the Road Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Katowice, the Metropolitan Transport Authority and the Silesian University of Technology. They talked about how Katowice has changed in recent years in terms of transport and what the city's development plans are - said Dr Hab. Eng. Grzegorz Sierpiński, prof. SUT
During the Day of Traffic Engineering and Mobility of the City of the Future, the Final of the Modern Traffic Engineering Competition and a job fair will be held.
On Friday, the events of the Future Transport Week moved to the Market Square in Katowice. City residents could see two racing cars designed by the Student Science Clubs of the Silesian University of Technology, and the stand of the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering was a point of discussion about the vehicles of the future.
- During the lecture we said, among others: about electromobility and hydrogen. Both the automotive, rail and aviation industries admit that hydrogen fuel is the future. In electric cars, instead of batteries, one day it will be possible to use hydrogen tanks that will produce this energy or electricity - explained Dr Eng. Adam Mańka, coordinator of the Week.
Students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering presented a laboratory stand for testing the quality of processing various energy sources to power a vehicle.
- We tested a combustion engine powered by fuel and an electric motor powered by a battery or fuel cell. We checked how much energy was needed in each case on the same route to develop a certain speed - explained Dr Hab. Eng. Rafał Setlak, Prof. SUT from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Students and PhD students also boasted about their achievements and knowledge during the Student Scientific Session, which took place at the Kato Science Corner.
It was an excellent opportunity to talk about your first research results and gain experience in presenting your own research results, but also based on a literature review. About a hundred people, including visitors from abroad, participated in the session. Their presentations were watched by, among others, Dr Eng. Magdalena Letun-Łątka – director of CIIT of the Silesian University of Technology.
- These are novice scientists, so I am glad that I could prepare a short presentation on intellectual property for them - said the director of CITT. - All products of our knowledge are the greatest good and young scientists should learn this at the very beginning of their adventure with science. They should not only ensure that their intellectual property is respected, but also that of their colleagues and other scientists, she added.
Presentations by young scientists included: airport in Katowice or ecological drive systems, e.g. solar systems.
Mechatronics in Transport Day and the Day of Recommendations for the Future of Transport in the Region ended the Future Transport Week, which was part of the celebration of 50 Weeks of Science in the European City of Science Katowice 2024. Event participants could try their hand at, among others, a road traffic simulator.
Also on Saturday morning, the inhabitants of Katowice could not help but hear about the Future Transport Week, because the capabilities of the car's sound system were literally presented on the Market Square.
- During the Day of Mechatronics in Transport, all interested parties could hear the music coming from the tuned Audi A4 B5 car. It has a sound system, air suspension, increased engine power and various modifications - says M.Sc. Eng. Wioletta Cebulska, a PhD student at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, whose PhD thesis examines the level of noise and vibration emissions in electric, hybrid and combustion cars.
On this day, daredevils could also feel like a Formula 1 driver.
- We have prepared a driving simulator built from a Formula Student car, with which our students won awards and appeared, among others, in Australia. Thanks to their work and idea, this car will not be forgotten - explains Dr Eng. Adam Mańka, coordinator of the Week. - In transport, we have a lot of elements related to mechatronics and we wanted to present this.
At the next stand there was an opportunity to test a road traffic simulator. This is an educational game in which you have to design a road network between fictional cities.
- It's learning through play. There are several levels in the game - from basic with hints - to advanced, in which you have to build viaducts. This should be done in an optimal way to avoid road congestion. I hope that people who faced this task liked it - explains M.Sc. Eng. Krystian Szewczyński, PhD student at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering.
Saturday's events as part of the Day of Mechatronics in Transport ended with the Inter-School Team Mobile Robot Construction Competition for secondary school students from Katowice and the region, who in April received parts to build a robot and could now present it.
- This is the culmination of the work of students whom we invited to build robots. They could build them under our supervision, as part of mechatronics workshops held at our University. The next stage of the competition will be races of these robots on an obstacle course, which will take place in November as part of Robot Week - says Dr Eng. Adam Mańka.
The Future Transport Week ended with Sunday's Recommendation Day for the Future of Transport in the Region.
- Together with a team of scientists, we analysed all the issues that were raised during six days during conversations with residents and debates regarding road, air and rail transport as well as traffic engineering and mobility of the city of the future. We want to develop recommendations for the region in the field of transport development - explains Dr Eng. Adam Mańka.
Future Transport Week took place from June 17 to 23, 2024.
The text was prepared by Jolanta Skwaradowska. The events were reported by Katarzyna Siwczyk, Martin Huć and Jolanta Skwaradowska.
