Volvo’s autonomous bus
Volvo Buses showcased an autonomous bus prototype at the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo Buses has been running electric buses in its home city of Gothenburg for close to two years now. These buses reflect upon the prowess of the bus major as they run on the city’s university route. In what is considered as an extension of a similar endeavour to project the latest the bus major has to offer, Volvo Buses at the Volvo Ocean Race held in Gothenburg, Sweden, unveiled a 12 m long autonomous bus. A proto, it is based on the company’s commercially produced electric city bus. Known to have been suitably modified for an autonomous operation, the bus incorporates new technology. Technology that could contribute to safer and comfortable travel besides offering efficient handling (manoeuvring on the road and in the depot). Claimed to have low noise levels and an emission-free operation, the systems of the electric autonomous bus are said to provide an excellent alternative for an attractive and sustainable public transport. Expressed Hakan Agnevall, President, Volvo Buses, “With various degrees of automation, it was possible for us to achieve further progress on crucial parameters like safety, comfort and efficiency.”
Designed for a safe and comfortable ride, the autonomous electric bus is programmed to accelerate and brake gently. Programmed through an inbuilt software code to smoothly start and stop, the bus is engineered to halt in exactly the same position on a repeated basis, and with the same gap maintaining the same gap between the bus and the platform. Aiding convenient entry and exit, the bus has been fitted with advanced sensors that work as its sensory organs to identify any obstructions in its way. The sensors log data, and control the selfpropelled bus using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Designed to prevent incidents and accidents with the capability to identify objects that the bus may come across, on the sides, at the front and rear, the bus adjusts its speed by sensing what lies or moves around it. If it senses an obstacle or danger, it stops. Programmed for a gentle drive, that is energy efficient, the autonomous bus is designed for gentle driving in a bid to operate in an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and economical manner. The technology permitting efficient vehicle handling especially when not in traffic according to Agnevall, the autonomous bus is engineered such that it will enable the depot staff to focus on service and maintenance instead of charging the batteries or drive the bus over to the washing bay; to the parking slot, etc. He mentioned that tomorrow’s buses will be able to charge their batteries on their own, drive to the wash bay, park themselves and do a lot more.
To be used for research in areas like platooning, the autonomous bus adds yet another feather in Volvo Bus’ crown. A pioneer in high capacity transport systems based on buses like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) according to Agnevall, the breaking cover of an autonomous bus marks the next step where automation could be used to wirelessly connect buses to trains with high flexibility. Electric bus systems such as these are expected to provide an attractive alternative to rail bound solutions in a city’s future public transport requirements. Over the next two years, the electric autonomous bus will be used in two automotive research projects that include FFI’s Autonomous City Buses project and KRABAT. FFI is the strategic vehicle research and innovation programme, a cooperative venture between the automotive industry and the Swedish state. KRABAT is part of the Swedish government’s joint programme called ‘Next-generation travel and transport,’ financed partly by Vinnova through ‘Drive Sweden’. It was earlier this year that Volvo Buses launched a joint autonomous electric bus project with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore for developing and testing autonomous buses in Singapore. Volvo Group has previously demonstrated autonomous vehicles for diverse applications like mining and refuse operations. The autonomous bus proto was presented within the framework of ElectriCity’s participation at the Volvo Ocean Race. ElectriCity is a joint project between the research community, industry and the city of Gothenburg, where new solutions for next-generation sustainable urban traffic are being developed, demonstrated and evaluated.