A fleet of full-size autonomous buses is about to start carrying passengers, marking a significant milestone for this technology. Starting next month in Scotland, these new buses will operate on public roads, which sets them apart from similar autonomous services that usually use smaller vehicles within confined areas like college campuses, recreation zones, and industrial parks.
Public transit company Stagecoach will run a fleet of five buses, each capable of transporting approximately 10,000 passengers per week along a 15-mile route. The buses can travel at speeds of up to 50 mph. These vehicles are equipped with various sensors and cameras to ensure safe travel along the specially designed route, starting in Edinburgh and crossing the iconic Forth Bridge.
The autonomous buses will navigate diverse infrastructures, including pedestrian areas at bus and train stations, single-lane roads, a 50-mph highway, traffic lights, and roundabouts. While a safety driver will be present at the front to take control if needed, a second attendant will assist passengers with boarding, ticket purchases, and any other questions.
This initiative, called CAVForth, is a collaborative effort involving several companies and institutions, such as Edinburgh Napier University, Bristol Robotics Lab, and Bristol-based Fusion Processing, which developed the autonomous system for the buses.
Carla Stockton-Jones, the managing director of Stagecoach, expressed enthusiasm about launching the U.K.’s first autonomous bus fleet in East Scotland, calling it a significant development for public transportation.
The U.K. government announced that this service, which starts on May 15, will be the world’s first operational full-size autonomous public bus service.