AVs for seniors from Via in New South Wales

Autonomous vehicle (AV) developers seem to targeting ‘closed’ communities such as retirement complexes or universities and Via is also joining this trend. The company has launched a free AV service called BusBot for a retirement community in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In partnership with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW and EasyMile, BusBot is operating in the Marian Grove Retirement Village in Toormina, a suburb of Coffs Harbour. Via says its technology allows the vehicle
July 18, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Autonomous vehicle (AV) developers seem to targeting ‘closed’ communities such as retirement complexes or universities and Via is also joining this trend.

The company has launched a free AV service called BusBot for a retirement community in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

In partnership with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW and 8246 EasyMile, BusBot is operating in the Marian Grove Retirement Village in Toormina, a suburb of Coffs Harbour.

Via says its technology allows the vehicle to navigate to virtual bus stops, allowing passengers to share trips without lengthy detours.

Daniel Ramot, co-founder of Via, says AVs need to be shared by multiple people to reach their full potential.

“Via’s sophisticated systems are able to power, in real time, the movement of millions of connected autonomous shuttles and their passengers,” Ramot adds.

Each vehicle can carry up to 15 people and travel at around 10km/h. Users can access the service from the BusBot app.

Last month, Via launched an on-demand %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external shared transit system false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/via-offers-on-demand-shared-transit-for-massachusetts-seniors/ false false%> for people over the age of 60 in the City of Newton, Massachusetts.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transdev enters partnership to develop shared mobility solution
    January 21, 2019
    Transdev is to launch an electric and automated shuttle service by 2020 in France and Germany. The company is to integrate its autonomous shuttle transport and supervision system with a shuttle provided by the e.Go Moove joint venture – a partnership comprising e.Go, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, and chassis technology firm ZF. ZF will provide the shuttle’s electric drive systems, steering systems and brakes as well as its ProAI central computer – a system which acts as a central control unit with
    Read More
  • Western Australia PTA chooses Flowbird for SmartRider scheme
    November 26, 2018
    The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia has chosen Flowbird Transport Intelligence as the prime contractor for its multimodal smart card scheme, SmartRider. The contactless electronic ticketing system uses RFID technology to provide Perth’s metropolitan region with access to bus, train and ferry services. Flowbird will provide ongoing support services for the daily running of SmartRider on all three modes. The company says it will establish “an enhanced service and support base” in Perth to s
    Read More
  • Teleste adds more smart bus stops to Finnish 5G project
    April 26, 2019
    Teleste is deploying two additional Connected Zone bus stops to improve safety and security at the Nokia Bell Labels LuxTurrim5G project in Espoo, Finland. The LuxTurrim5G project seeks to develop and demonstrate a fast 5G network based on smart light poles with integrated antennas, base stations, sensors, screens and other devices. Teleste says its smart bus stop uses video surveillance and 5G to help security personnel respond to incidents. The project is expected to be extended in the summer to inclu
    Read More
  • Thales and Telstra link up to enable safe airspace for drones
    March 4, 2019
    Thales and Australian mobile network provider Telstra are working together to enable the management of low altitude airspace for autonomous flying taxis, drones and helicopters. The partnership is investigating how 4G and 5G technology and Internet of Things capabilities could enable robust navigation and monitoring of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – more commonly called drones. Chris Jenkins, chief executive of Thales Australia, says the partnership intends to help customers integrate unmanned aircra
    Read More

Highlighted Content