The Scottish transport group, Stagecoach, in partnership with Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland, will be carrying out on-road testing of the autonomous bus over the next two weeks in preparation for the launch of the CAVForth pilot service in late summer.
The on-road testing in Scotland follows depot-based trials, track testing and virtual simulation where the buses have been put through their paces to fine-tune the autonomous drive systems.
Jointly funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), the Project CAVForth pilot will see five single-deck autonomous buses operating at SAE Level-4 over the Forth Road Bridge between Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife and the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange, a communication from the company stated.
Capable of carrying up to 36 passengers over the 14 miles across the bridge, with a capacity for over 10,000 passengers a week, these busses are fitted with Fusion Processing’s sensor and control technology, CAVstar, that enables them to run on pre-selected roads without the safety driver having to intervene or take control, the release added.
As part of project CAVForth, around 500 members of the public have helped with the implementation of the new autonomous bus service on it, providing feedback on what would make them feel comfortable and confident in travelling, the release said.
Additionally, in the project, over 20 specially trained ‘Autonomous Bus Professionals’ will soon be recruited by Stagecoach from across its East Scotland business, who will monitor the autonomous system alongside a bus ‘Captain’.
The bus ‘Captain’ will move around the saloon, talking to passengers about the service and answering any questions they may have, demonstrating what a future service might feel like when the staff member can leave the cab while the computer does the driving the company said.
Sam Greer, Regional Director for Stagecoach in Scotland, said that the company is looking for ways to improve the service it offers to customers, including through major investment in new technology, such as the CAVForth pilot.
Chris Gall, ADL Group Engineering Director, said, “The start of on-route testing is a milestone for our autonomous bus project. In partnership with Stagecoach, Fusion Processing and Transport Scotland, Project CAVForth helps us to explore new technologies that will make buses even safer and even more efficient.”
Jim Hutchinson, CEO, Fusion Processing, said that the CAVForth will provide a useful service to local people and be a great demonstration of Fusion’s automated vehicle technology.
“The buses are fitted with CAVstar, our automated driving system which combines our own hardware and software to create, safe, full-size buses, operating at SAE Level 4,” he added.