Cambridge tests autonomous shuttle bus on public roads
It remains exciting to see what tomorrow’s mobility will look like. In my opinion, one thing is clear and another is not quite certain. The clear point is that the mobility of the future must become emission-free. Electric cars and those with hydrogen will drive through the republic and the air values will be significantly better as a result.
The not so sure thing is whether and when we will be on the road with completely autonomous vehicles. There are still many regulatory and infrastructural hurdles, but once these have been resolved, there is nothing to be said against boarding robot taxis, buses and trains soon. A step is now being taken in this direction at Cambridge.
The model operated by Aurrigo looks more like an oversized coach at first glance, but currently only 10 people fit into the vehicle. In June, three of these buses will go into test operation. The test area will be a 20-minute stretch between the Madingley car park, the West Cambridge campus and the Institute for Astronomy.
This is exciting to the extent that the “auto shuttles” travel on public roads at up to 32 kilometers per hour. And in Cambridge these are sometimes pretty tight. The vehicle is powered by a 22 kilowatt motor and can be charged up to 200 kilometers.
It remains to be seen what will happen when an autonomous bus and non-autonomous private transport meet on the streets for the first time. To be on the safe side, a driver remains on board first, who can intervene in the worst-case scenario. No matter how things go: the findings will certainly help us in the future when it comes to mobility.
Own opinion:
Fully autonomous vehicles on the streets are no longer uncommon, but operation is usually limited to small, predetermined areas. Once the technology is fully developed, it remains exciting to see whether the solution can be easily scaled. Until then, any research is a step in the right direction.
Via Electrek
