For more than a decade, autonomous buses have been "almost ready." Demonstrations with safety drivers began around 2015, and ten years later, this is still largely what we see. The reason is not a lack of ambition - it is physics, safety, and economics. Autonomous buses on city streets are inherently difficult. They carry dozens of passengers, operate as heavy vehicles, and move through a chaotic urban environment.
Our Enviro100AEV carrying passengers as part of the Connector trial is another great milestone for autonomous bus technology in the United Kingdom. This moment builds on years of advanced research, development and testing in multiple projects, and Connector again sets new standards for what is possible today with the technology of the future.
Autonomous driving starts in the depot, according to A utonomous Systems, which has developed an urban bus capable of moving autonomously within depot areas. Its name says it all: Smartbus. Thanks to SmartDEPOT™ technology, the vehicle can move freely, drive itself to the washing station, park, and recharge - all without a driver behind the wheel or even on board.
