Self-Driving Buses Soon to Become Reality: Technological Advancements Pave the Way

Sitting behind a vehicle that roams around automatically is no longer a fiction. Thanks to advancements in autonomous technology, we can hop onto a bus that picks up at your stop and drops at the destination without a driver.

The topic of the self-driving bus quickly became a hot news. Tech giants such as Google, Volvo, and Uber have invested a huge pile of money into developing autonomous buses and are eagerly testing its prototypes. Driven by increasing traffic congestion, growing connected infrastructure, and rapid development of smart cities, the self-driving bus market is projected to reach $74.52 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 40.5% from 2020 to 2026.

After years of research and debates about whether the autonomous vehicle is beneficial, we finally are seeing driverless vehicles becoming a reality. So, what’s the current state of the self-driving bus?

Recent developments in the self-driving bus industry

Asia leads the race of autonomous public transport as China had launched the world’s first self-driving bus in 2015. The bus was integrated with cameras for guidance, laser radars, and master controller. Moreover, the bus had a human driver behind the wheel just in case of emergencies. The bus was considered a success as it responded well to obstacles without human assistance.

On the other hand, Silicon Valley has also seen its fair share of self-driving buses. Recently, the use of light-duty autonomous vehicles as a mode of public transport was approved in California. The new rule applies to self-driving vehicles that weight less than 10,001 pounds, which includes pickup trucks, utility vans, minivans, and step vans. However, the driverless bus does not fit into the criteria. As California is a hotbed for autonomous vehicle technology, the state is expected to increase the weight limit.

In other news, Volvo successfully demonstrated the potential of autonomous vehicle technology when it showcased a self-driving bus that transported around depots. The company had partnered with the public transport company, Keolis to configure an electric bus to roam between parking lots to work stations. Prior to this, Volvo had demonstrated autonomous technology and urged that deploying self-driving vehicles is not about replacing humans but it is about improving efficiency.

Apart from this, the leading bus manufacturer, New Flyer, also launched its autonomous technology program to deploy self-driving as well as driver-assist technology for public transit agencies.

According to New Flyer, it will focus on developing connectivity and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V­2I) technology for public transport. Moreover, the company is expected to coordinate with local federal agencies to improve automation technology.

What’s in it for the future?

The biggest challenge for autonomous vehicles is the dilemma of federal regulations. The proper specified safety protocols are not yet established without gauging the actual cars on the road. However, the vehicles are not allowed to roam on the road until they pass the proper regulations.

Although autonomous cars have been ahead of the curve compared to self-driving buses, the later technology provides a much sustainable option to beat pressing issues such as traffic congestion. This, in the future, major market players are expected to invest more in the market.

Reference:

theverge.com

venturebeat.com

Related Post