Ambitious Master student Builds a Future in Intelligent Mobility

Radu Firtat (25) made the leap from Romania to the Netherlands due to the economic situation in his home country. "The political and economic situation in Romania leads to a low quality of life," he explains. Radu was looking for a destination that met his priorities: a welcoming, English-speaking environment, a high-quality education system, and good access to healthcare. Combined with his passion for cars and trucks, the Netherlands turned out to be the perfect place for his ambitions. 

As a bachelor student in Automotive at HAN University of Applied Sciences, Firtat specialized in Vehicle Electronics and Control. After completing his bachelor's, he decided to continue his studies in the Master Engineering Systems program at HAN. "The choice was easy," Radu explains. "The program is well-structured, with one year of intensive lectures and six months for the thesis. I specialized in Intelligent Mobility, which is all about making systems smarter and more autonomous." 

This specialization focuses on intelligent control, enabling vehicles to communicate with each other and their environment. "This is truly the future," he says. "There are so many interesting topics, such as smart controls and simulation modeling."

For his thesis project, the Master student is working on an innovative solution for trailers. "Normally, a truck pulls the trailer," Radu explains. "In my project, the trailer is equipped with an electric motor that pushes the truck from behind. My main goal is to prove that this concept is practical and effective." 

"This method of transport offers two major advantages. First, it saves energy because the truck is partly powered by the electric axle of the trailer. Second, it perfectly aligns with the European Union's Green Deal and sustainability goals. This is a more environmentally friendly solution for road transport." 

It’s no coincidence that this project perfectly aligns with Radu’s passion for trucks and his interest in improving their efficiency and sustainability.

Students at HAN gain practical experience during internships at companies in the Netherlands and abroad. For his thesis internship, Radu works at V-Tron, a company focused on developing innovative technologies for safer and more sustainable transport. "V-Tron's work includes advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and intelligent control systems for electric mobility solutions," explains the Romanian Master student. 

His project is part of the yDrive initiative, which focuses on developing an electrified trailer with a motorized axle. "My role is to design and implement a Dynamic Energy Management Controller (DEMC) for this system. This controller integrates data from various vehicle and road parameters to optimize energy consumption."

V-Tron has already developed a basic controller with limited functionalities. "My task is to improve it by adding advanced capabilities that allow the system to better understand its environment. The enhanced controller will contribute to more efficient energy use and smoother, safer traffic movements in practice." 

He’s excited about his progress: "This project gives me the opportunity to apply my knowledge of electronics, control systems, and transport technologies, while contributing to innovative and sustainable solutions for road transport. I hope to complete my research by February 2025." 

Radu’s passion for trucks started at a young age. "Both my grandfathers were truck drivers. My father followed in their footsteps while also studying automotive engineering, and he became an automotive engineer," Radu explains. "I grew up among trucks and spent my summers riding along with my father in the truck." 

Last summer, the Master student traveled across Europe with his father, helping out in the family transport company. They went on road trips in an older Mercedes Actros 4 with over 1.5 million kilometers on the odometer. "We drove through Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and the Benelux countries." 

In September, they visited the Mercedes factory in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, where his father picked up a brand-new Mercedes ActrosL 2024. "This is the last truck my father will drive before retiring," says Radu. "It was a special moment for both of us!" 

After his studies, Radu wants to build a career in automotive engineering and use his passion for trucks in the process. "After my thesis, I want to work as an engineer and occasionally keep driving trucks on the weekends." 

Over the next five years, Radu hopes to save enough money to buy a house in the Netherlands. In the long term, his ultimate dream is to start his own truck service business. "I want to specialize in electronics and control systems because trucks are becoming smarter. I want to help the transport sector adapt to these changes. That would be the perfect combination of my skills and passion!"