Press release: Initial Results

SALSA research project presents initial findings halfway through project
14 partners from research and industry develop concepts for autonomous and automated driving
The focus was on initial study results from various topic areas, which provide important insights for further project work

Fellbach, February 12, 2026 – After around 18 months, the SALSA funding project presented its initial results at the Schwabenlandhalle on February 12. SALSA stands for “Smart, Adaptive, and Learnable Systems for All”. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, consists of 14 renowned partners from industry and research as well as three associated partners. The partners presented the results achieved so far in the various sub-projects to around 110 participants from industry, research, the press, politics, and the public. Thanks to demonstrators and an extensive exhibition, they vividly conveyed the bridge between people and technology.

SALSA addresses the challenges arising from the interaction between automated and conventional vehicles and other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. As traffic accidents continue to account for a significant proportion of deaths in Germany, SALSA aims to make a decisive contribution to road safety by further developing automated and autonomous driving. The development of adaptive systems is intended to enable seamless and secure communication both within the vehicle and between the vehicle and its surroundings in order to promote confidence in automated technologies and thus also increase road safety and acceptance.

The integration of automated and autonomous vehicles into everyday traffic is more relevant than ever. More and more manufacturers are addressing integration and the challenges it presents. “Our holistic approach enables us to achieve a transfer that would otherwise be virtually impossible: the systematic linking of the interior and exterior perspectives. This means that people are always at the forefront of our thinking, both inside and outside the vehicle,” reports Dr. Andrea Elser from Valeo, SALSA project manager.

“Our research focuses on the user-centered adaptation of vehicle design, driving behavior, and internal and external communication to the diverse needs of passengers and other road users. We are currently developing a user-friendly, intelligent, and adaptable interior for the vehicle,” explains Lars Gadermann, technical project manager for the project at the Institute for Design Engineering and Technical Design (IKTD) at the University of Stuttgart. “Comprehensible and aesthetically designed external human-machine interfaces (eHMI) also contribute significantly to increasing the safety and acceptance of automated vehicles in public spaces.”

SALSA – a holistic concept comprising six thematic areas

The project is divided into six different thematic areas, all of which pursue the central goal of improving the user experience with automated driving functions. Both passenger cars and trucks are considered. In the area of sleep, the project partners are developing innovative concepts that enable comfortable waking up and thus aim to reduce the risk of sleep inertia in the vehicle in the long term. Among other things, an adaptive assistant in the form of a chatbot has been developed that adapts to the activities of the occupants.

The driver condition topic area is developing technologies for comprehensive recording of the user’s condition, taking into account both the mental and physical state of the driver. This includes the integration of sensors and algorithms that collect real-time data on attention, fatigue, stress levels, and other relevant factors. The collected data is used to adjust the current driving mode and ensure that the user is able to use the automated functions safely.
In the field of eHMI, external human-machine interfaces are creating new communication channels between vehicles and their environment. The functional safety, standardization, and resilience of these interfaces against cyberattacks are essential to ensure trust, acceptance, and safe interaction in mixed traffic. Various eHMI stakeholders, such as cyclists, pedestrians, drivers of conventional cars, and vehicle buyers, are taken into account. Vehicle design is therefore included in the investigations, as is the implicit driving behavior of automated systems. In addition, an evaluation method for eHMI concepts is being developed and tested to determine how eHMI can support prosocial behavior in traffic.

In the area of communication and adaptation, the challenge is being addressed of decoupling the increasing complexity of operating systems in the vehicle interior from touch screens and reincorporating them into haptic controls within the vehicle by means of morphing and shape-changing elements. To this end, the project is conducting fundamental research into shape change and morphing and working out how these can be used, including with the aid of AI, for individualization and personalization in order to increase usability, user experience, and enjoyment. Applications for use in trucks are also a focus here, for example to improve menu navigation using AI or to be able to recommend rest stops using an individual app.

The topic of acceptance deals primarily with the acceptance of automated and autonomous vehicles in mixed traffic. This includes the sensible use of assistance systems and a trustworthy interpretation of minimum risk maneuvers, in which the automated vehicle comes to a safe stop in an emergency without alarming the occupants. The consortium partners use dynamic driving simulations to provide specific recommendations for a trust-building interpretation of driving functions that support a positive perception.

In knowledge transfer, the project examines how users learn new information and thus interact with vehicles. Studies in SALSA show that drivers learn new functions primarily through trial and error and that learning systems that offer practical, action-oriented, and multimedia training are significantly more effective and motivating than traditional manuals. Content on the operation, limitations, risks, and displays of the systems is particularly relevant for users, with flexible concepts both before and during use being preferred.