Australia's first driverless bus takes to the open road

Australia’s first fully driverless and electric shuttle bus, the RAC Intellibus, has begun on-roads trials in South Perth, following tests in a closed environment, as part of the Royal Automobile Club’s (RAC) plan to trial autonomous vehicle technology. The RAC Intellibus will carry passengers and interact with traffic, parked cars, cyclists and pedestrians as it travels along South Perth Esplanade between the Old Mill, near the Narrows Bridge, and Sir James Mitchell Park.
September 1, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Australia’s first fully driverless and electric shuttle bus, the RAC Intellibus, has begun on-roads trials in South Perth, following tests in a closed environment, as part of the Royal Automobile Club’s (RAC) plan to trial autonomous vehicle technology.

The RAC Intellibus will carry passengers and interact with traffic, parked cars, cyclists and pedestrians as it travels along South Perth Esplanade between the Old Mill, near the Narrows Bridge, and Sir James Mitchell Park.

The shuttle bus can transport up to 11 passengers and has a maximum speed of 25km per hour. The vehicle aims to complement the existing transport system over distances which are too short to travel by car but too far to walk.

The shuttle bus is fitted with multi-sensor technology providing 3D perception that allows it to map the environment, detect obstacles on the road and interpret traffic signs. The shuttle bus is the result of 10 years research and expertise which allows it to achieve the highest level of autonomy possible making it an entirely autonomous, or driverless, series vehicle.

RAC Group chief executive officer Terry Agnew said Western Australia is leading the way in exploring the possibilities of driverless vehicle technology, with the RAC Intellibus trial set to be the first in the country, and among the first in the world.

“This trial is an Australian-first, and will be a real trial incorporating members of the public travelling on public roads,” he said.

“We anticipate this first step in exploring driverless technology will start a conversation on further trials, research and collaboration, which will increase WA’s understanding of how driverless vehicles can integrate into our transport system.”

Location Based Systems

Related Content

  • Tokyo snaps up lead in transit performance, says Snapper
    October 29, 2024
    Japan's capital tops on-time table using new comparative Mosaiq Global Transit Index
    Read More
  • UK researchers developing 3D 'black box' technology for vehicles
    August 10, 2016
    UK-based Roke Manor Research (Roke) has developed, with the help of funding from Innovate UK, what it says is the world's first viable 3D 'black box' technology for vehicles, using a single dashboard camera.
    Read More
  • Olympic challenges in Sochi
    May 27, 2014
    Sporting events always create problems for traffic planners and none more so than the Winter Olympics. It is difficult to think of more diametrically opposite challenges for transport planners than the 2012 Olympics in London and this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi: from a summer event in the heart of a megacity with well established transport infrastructure to winter games with unpredictable weather and events in remote and mountainous locations. The Winter Games are always a challenge and Sochi was no di
    Read More
  • ITS homes in on cycling safety
    April 9, 2014
    A new generation of ITS equipment is helping road authorities get to grips with cycle safety – and not a moment too soon as Colin Sowman discovers. Cyclists - remember them? Apparently not. At least not according to the OECD 2013 report Cycling, Health and Safety which contains the statement: ‘Cyclists are often forgotten in the design of the road traffic system’. Looking through the statistics that exist (each country appears to compile them differently) it is not difficult to see how such a conclusion cou
    Read More

Highlighted Content