Bristol robot experts have helped create and launch what is being heralded as one of the most ambitious and complex trials of driverless, autonomous bus systems in the world.
The trial, involving a team from Bristol Robotics, based at the University of the West of England, has put buses that drive themselves on a park and ride bus route that crosses the Forth Bridge and heads in and out of Edinburgh.
The 14-mile route taken by the buses include the Forth Road Bridge, A-roads, motorways, bus lanes, traffic lights and roundabouts. There is a driver on board, sitting behind the wheel - this is a trial - but the aim is to show that the technology will allow the bus to drive, steer, manoeuvre and navigate through traffic itself.
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In fact, there will be two drivers on board what the experts hope will one day become a completely driverless bus - a second ‘bus captain’ will move around the bus talking to passengers and showing what a future with no driver might look like.
The Bristol experts have teamed up with Fusion Processing, transport bosses in Scotland and Stagecoach to create the system, which will run on a 14-mile route from the Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife to the Edinburgh Park interchange, across the Forth Road Bridge, in the city itself.
The bus system launched yesterday (Monday) and the aim is to have five buses running back and forth every half an hour, carrying up to 10,000 passengers a day at speeds of up to 50mph.
A spokesperson said the trial was ‘one of the most ambitious and complex autonomous bus trials worldwide’, because the buses will often be driving themselves in regular traffic, not on segregated highways or bus lanes.
The trial is testing up to the highest level of autonomous vehicle technology currently permissible on public roads in the UK - SAE Level 4 - which requires an actual safety driver to be on board at all times. Stagecoach has recruited 20 ‘autonomous bus professionals’ to do the job.
The lead expert from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Prof Anthony Pipe, said the short term benefits would be a smoother ride for passengers and better fuel efficiency, as the automated technology optimises the way the bus drives, but long term, it could transform the way public transport develops.
“Bristol Robotics Laboratory is very proud to be involved in this ground-breaking project, which is taking a world-lead on advanced automation for the public service vehicle sector,” said Prof Pipe.
“The short-term benefits of vehicle autonomy in providing safer and more energy efficient travel will be illustrated by this project and, in the longer term, we believe that it will contribute significantly to transformations in the way we achieve mobility in our society,” he added.
Those behind the trial said their technology should make a better passenger experience for those on board. “The buses use Fusion Processing’s autonomous drive system, CAVStar, which utilises data from a suite of state-of-the-art sensors including cameras, LiDAR and radar together with artificial intelligence processing to deliver optimum efficiency throughout the journey, in all traffic conditions. In addition, receiving information directly from traffic light systems enables the bus to plan its speed to run smoothly run from one green light to the next. This intelligent autonomous driving reduces unnecessary braking and accelerating, contributing to less wear on brakes and tyres, with corresponding reductions in particulate emissions,” a spokesperson said.
“To support the project’s extensive research on passenger and public acceptance of autonomous vehicle technology, a second autonomous bus professional will act as bus captain, moving freely around the vehicle to engage with customers. This demonstrates what a future autonomous service could feel like when a single bus ‘captain’ can leave the cab while the computer does the driving,” he added.
Scottish transport minister Kevin Stewart said: “It is really exciting to see the innovative and ambitious CAVForth project take to the roads in earnest after all the hard work of the partner organisations involved in bringing this world first to Scotland.
“We want Scotland to continue to be at the forefront in the development of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and the start of this live trial will really help the country establish its credentials on the world stage. I am excited to see how this technology can help to support our vision for a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system,” he added.
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