Arnold NextG Blogspot: Focus on industries – How autonomy is redefining industry-specific mobility

While the technological cornerstones – perception, planning, connectivity, and drive-by-wire – are broadly similar, domain-specific design determines cost-effectiveness and approval eligibility. Autonomy must adapt to the industry, not the other way around.

Public transport: Efficiency and inclusion in geofenced operation

In public transport, autonomous systems are mainly used as Level 4 shuttles in clearly defined operating areas. The aim is to economically develop regions with low demand, reduce operating costs, and enable barrier-free mobility.

Pilot projects in Kelheim, Monheim, and Augsburg show that autonomous shuttle solutions are already being operated under real-world conditions—with remote control centers, V2X communication, and integration into existing public transport systems. The handbook "Autonomous Driving in Public Transport" (2024), supported by the BMDV, emphasizes the importance of clearly defined operating areas, structured safety concepts, and end-to-end system integration. The Augsburg model project in particular illustrates that autonomy in public transport does not function in isolation, but must be conceived as part of a digital transport system – including control center connection, operational monitoring, and clearly defined degradation strategies in the event of a malfunction.

The focus is on technically safe passenger interaction, predictable fallback strategies, and a certified control architecture. In such scenarios, NX NextMotion from Arnold NextG acts as a fault-tolerant execution layer between decision-making software and vehicle movement – crucial for driverless operating models in which the safe implementation of steering, braking, and drive commands must be verifiable by regulatory authorities.

Logistics & last mile: Continuous operation in structured environments

In logistics centers, depots, or the last mile, a different set of requirements dominates. The environments are often structured, speeds are moderate, and repetition rates are high. The goal is to automate repetitive processes in 24/7 operation. Autonomous yard trucks, delivery robots, and warehouse vehicles require high-precision steering and braking control, robust path planning for tight maneuvers, and teleoperation as a fallback level. Especially in fleet-based applications, a redundant drive-by-wire architecture is essential to minimize downtime.

This is where NX NextMotion’s fail-operational architecture comes into play: physically and logically separated control paths enable controlled continued operation even in the event of partial failures – a decisive factor for economic scaling.

Ports & yard automation: Controlled complexity

Port facilities and container terminals combine structured operating areas with complex process chains. Self-driving terminal tractors move containers between the quay, warehouse, and crane systems – often in mixed operation with personnel. Industry reports, such as the Volvo Autonomous Trucks Report (2025), show that hybrid systems combining autonomy and remote control are increasingly being tested. Centimeter-precise localization, real-time fleet coordination, and defined degradation modes are key requirements here.

For OEMs, this means that motion systems must be deterministic, remotely controllable, and certifiable. NX NextMotion is designed to meet these requirements – with full integration into control rooms and fleet management systems.

Mining & Construction: Autonomy under Extreme Conditions

Conditions in mines and on large construction sites quickly overwhelm classic road vehicle architectures. Dust, vibration, shock, and frequent GNSS restrictions require robust, redundantly designed systems. Autonomous dump trucks, bulldozers, and excavators are used to remove personnel from hazardous areas and maintain productivity under extreme conditions. Perception systems are often LiDAR-dominated, and teleoperation must function reliably even with limited bandwidth.

Mechanical steering is often unsuitable for retrofit projects. This is where drive-by-wire becomes a key technology. NX NextMotion enables the electronic control of existing platforms and integrates safety-oriented fallback mechanisms in environments with high mechanical stress.

Defense & tactical mobility: Safety under threat

In a military context, the protection of personnel is paramount. Semi-autonomous or teleoperated troop transporters and logistics convoys reduce the risk in high-risk zones. In addition to functional safety, hardened control architectures and cyber resilience are crucial here. Military standards and regulatory requirements – for example, in the context of UNECE R155 or NATO-related specifications – demand encrypted communication paths and redundant ECU structures.

Arnold NextG has developed its architecture in line with defense requirements. SAFE_CAN, separate safety domains, and fail-operational logic form the basis for robust tactical applications.

Agriculture: Precision on a large scale

Autonomous tractors, harvesters, and sprayers operate in large-scale, semi-structured environments. The goal is to reduce seasonal labor dependency, improve resource efficiency, and enable precise cultivation. GNSS in combination with RTK correction signals enables centimeter-accurate guidance. At the same time, systems must remain capable of decentralized decision-making, as permanent connectivity cannot be guaranteed. Safety requirements are defined by ISO 25119 for agricultural machinery, among others.

NX NextMotion is used in agricultural pilot projects to safely implement autonomous driving maneuvers on unstructured terrain – even without permanent remote monitoring.

Conclusion: Industry-specific solutions on a systemic basis

Autonomy manifests itself differently in every industry – in terms of speed, regulations, infrastructure, and risk profile. Nevertheless, all applications are based on common technological foundations: sensor-based perception, robust decision-making logic, certified drive-by-wire control, and scalable infrastructure integration. For OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, this means that competitive advantages are not created by isolated components, but by systemic integration capabilities.

With NX NextMotion, Arnold NextG is positioning itself as part of these domain-specific system architectures – as a fault-tolerant, certifiable, and teleoperation-capable motion layer for a wide range of industries.

We control what moves!

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