Aurrigo, a UK-based company, has introduced its Auto-Shuttle as the designated autonomous vehicle for the Living Lab for Autonomous Electric Vehicles project in Europe. This initiative seeks to evaluate the potential of driverless public transit.
Aurrigo is collaborating with the Living Lab for Autonomous Electric Vehicles, a project funded by the European Union and spearheaded by the University College of London. Aurrigo's Auto-Shuttle vehicles are currently operational in Prague and Brno, Czech Republic, as well as in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
Speaking on the benefits of driverless buses, Bani Anvari, a professor at the University College London working closely with Aurrigo states, “Cities face challenges such as reducing emissions, improving the safety and mobility of cyclists or pedestrians, increasing the quality of life for citizens. Driverless shuttles or pods can be a game changer for cities as they address many of these challenges.”
Initially, the Auto-Shuttles will operate with a human operator on board as a safety measure in case of any errors. However, Aurrigo's future plans involve replacing these human operators with remote supervisors who will not be physically present on the bus but can still take control if necessary. This transition aims to acclimate riders to the concept of driverless buses while fully autonomous technology is in development. The thought of having driverless public transport such as buses is certainly neat, but it seems Auriggo has identified that the riding public’s confidence must also be built. Getting into a very large vehicle without a driver would certainly feel unnerving after all.
The Auto-Shuttle utilizes LiDAR technology, along with cameras and Aurrigo's proprietary software, to establish a reliable and comprehensive understanding of its surroundings. In order to traverse its routes effectively, the Auto-Shuttle builds an image of the world around it as it goes along. According to Auriggo, they are implementing a robust safety framework in order to introduce its technology responsibly. Other companies like IVECO are also working on driverless vehicles, however, IVECO and its partner Plus are working to introduce the technology to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Despite the differences in platform, these companies share a common goal of enhancing autonomous driving technology for the sake of safety.
