Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

buses

Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

by

By Shihao Fu, technology analyst, IDTechEx

In recent years, the promise of the public transport revolution has been teased by autonomous buses and roboshuttles. These technologies promise to deliver significant cost reductions for operators and alleviate labor pressures.

More than 50 autonomous bus and roboshuttle players once competed in this space. However, as the autonomous driving industry evolved during 2022-2024, the commercialization progress of autonomous buses and roboshuttles has been slow, falling short of industry expectations.

IDTechEx has observed a yearly decline in the number of active companies from 2020 to 2024, and large-scale commercial testing has not been achieved. Roboshuttles need to overcome the uncertainties posed by dynamic routes and the performance challenges of navigating narrow urban streets.

[Read more…] about Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

by

By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

Autonomous buses represent one of the most challenging platforms in the autonomous driving industry. In recent years, commercial interest has shifted towards roboshuttles and robotaxis, partly due to the complex operational design domains (ODD) of autonomous buses.

The typical ODD for a bus requires interactions with a broad range of road users, including more pedestrians, cyclists, bus stops, passengers, and surrounding vehicles.

The larger size of these buses, coupled with their intricate ODD, presents challenges similar to those faced by roboshuttles.

[Read more…] about Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

Autonomous trucks make the ‘most compelling case’ for automation in commercial vehicles, says report

by

Autonomous trucks make “the most compelling case for automation in commercial vehicles”, according to a new report.

The new IDTechEx study, Heavy-Duty Autonomous Vehicles 2023-2043: Trucks, Buses & Roboshuttles, has found significant activity in the autonomous heavy-duty and commercial vehicle space.

Today, there are hundreds of vehicles around the globe in various stages of trialing, piloting, and even some companies teetering on the precipice of fully unmanned commercial deployment. Each industry has unique strengths and challenges, here are some key findings from the report. [Read more…] about Autonomous trucks make the ‘most compelling case’ for automation in commercial vehicles, says report

Lilee Systems to launch first autonomous buses for public transportation in Taiwan

by

Lilee Systems has received the first permit for self-driving bus commercial services on two designated bus lines in Tainan, Taiwan.

The self-driving fleet, subsidized by the Ministry of Transportation, will generate new revenues to the city’s public transit systems by providing two regular bus services in the science park and between the high-speed railway station and the nearby university, exhibition center and large outlet mall.

This milestone of the innovative autonomous rapid transit system has been achieved through partnership with Kasion Green Energy, Taiwan’s sole distributor of BYD vehicles, and Tainan Bus, one of the largest bus operators servicing over 23-million passengers per year. [Read more…] about Lilee Systems to launch first autonomous buses for public transportation in Taiwan

Fabulos completes autonomous public transport pilot project in Greece

by

An autonomous public transport pilot project in Greece, led by an Estonian consortium called the Future Automated Bus Urban Level Operation Systems (Fabulos), has now successfully ended. After two months and 1,930 km driven in the streets of the municipality of Lamia, nearly 400 people used autonomous bus “Iseauto”.

The bus has been developed in Estonia and offers a full-scale autonomous public transportation service in Lamia.

The autonomous minibus developed by AuveTech in Estonia is the first Level 4 category autonomous vehicle that has officially been declared “street-legal” in Greece. [Read more…] about Fabulos completes autonomous public transport pilot project in Greece

Siemens provides electric charging points for bus depot in Hamburg

by

Siemens Smart Infrastructure won a major contract from Hamburger Hochbahn, the largest local transport provider in the Hanseatic city.

Siemens will equip two of the six carports at the Alsterdorf bus depot with a total of 96 charging points as well as medium and low-voltage technology. Operations are scheduled to start in summer 2021.

With a total of 240 parking spaces, it is one of the largest and most modern bus depots for electric buses in Europe. [Read more…] about Siemens provides electric charging points for bus depot in Hamburg

Autonomous shuttle market forecast to be worth $18 billion

by

The autonomous shuttle market is forecast to be worth $18 billion by IDTechEx, which includes driverless minibuses and small, sidewalk delivery robots in the category. 

An increasing number of commercial vehicles are going battery-electric, assisted by battery life of one million miles and ranges of up to 600 miles being imminent. Shenzhen alone has 70,000 electric logistics vehicles.

Next come robot buses, robotrucks and robotaxis with driver elimination reducing cost by intensive use. IDTechEx has a report on the topic, Electric, Hybrid & Fuel Cell Light Commercial Vehicles 2021-2041. [Read more…] about Autonomous shuttle market forecast to be worth $18 billion

Estonian company launches ‘first’ autonomous bus in Greece

by

An autonomous bus named “Iseauto” has started its work in Greece, in the city of Lamia. The bus has been developed in Estonia and offers a full-scale autonomous service that was first piloted in the summer in Tallinn, in Ülemiste City.

For the first time in Greek history, a fully street-legal autonomous vehicle is operational in the context of an autonomous public transport pilot project led by Estonians.

The autonomous minibus developed by AuveTech in Estonia is the first “4th category” – or Level 4 – autonomous vehicle that has been pigeonholed “street-legal” in Greece. [Read more…] about Estonian company launches ‘first’ autonomous bus in Greece

Robotic and Automation News Review: Kassow Robots, Walmart, Wilson Logistics and much more…

by

Robotics and Automation News Review Friday 25 September 2020

This is a new, weekly column which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.

This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel. (See video below.)

Please support our website by subscribing to our YouTube channel, by sharing the stories we publish on your social media pages, and by purchasing premium subscriptions to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, as well as through corporate sponsorships and advertising.

[Read more…] about Robotic and Automation News Review: Kassow Robots, Walmart, Wilson Logistics and much more…

Autonomous shuttles: Large, diesel buses being replaced with electric, self-driving shuttles

by

The autonomous mobility industry is tackling part of the last-mile problem that many commuters encounter when using public transportation by replacing large, diesel buses with a fleet of electric, self-driving shuttle buses that transport small groups of people along defined and planned routes.

Autonomous shuttles could be a key element that connects the public transportation systems to reduce private car ownership in the future.

The autonomous shuttle total market size will be over $18 million by 2040, according to IDTechEx’s report, Robot Shuttles and Autonomous Buses 2020-2040. [Read more…] about Autonomous shuttles: Large, diesel buses being replaced with electric, self-driving shuttles