Mannheim and Friedrichshafen are now testing two so-called autonomous minibuses for local public transport. As part of the “RABus” project, each vehicle will have space for up to ten passengers and will have a safety driver on board, but can drive independently, as the Ministry of Transport announced.
The project has one of the first test permits in Germany for so-called highly automated driving. “Baden-Württemberg is thus taking autonomous driving with shuttle services to the next level and is taking a significant technological step forward,” as Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) said.
“RABus” stands for “real-world laboratories for automated bus operations in public transport”. According to the project partner, the buses will initially run without passengers. If you want to take part from the end of October, you don’t have to pay anything, but you have to register in advance. The state is funding the project, which runs until December, with almost 14 million euros. The technology for autonomous driving comes from the automotive supplier ZF in Friedrichshafen.
With highly automated driving, a vehicle drives itself under given conditions and human intervention should no longer be necessary. The Association of German Transport Companies speaks of a “special position” with regard to “RABus” and points, among other things, to a significantly more advanced technology compared to similar projects and the close connection with public transport operators.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:241001-930-248413/1
Mannheim and Friedrichshafen are now testing two so-called autonomous minibuses for local public transport. As part of the “RABus” project, each vehicle will have space for up to ten passengers and will have a safety driver on board, but can drive independently, as the Ministry of Transport announced.
The project has one of the first test permits in Germany for so-called highly automated driving. “Baden-Württemberg is thus taking autonomous driving with shuttle services to the next level and is taking a significant technological step forward,” as Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) said.
