23rd Jul 2018 17:43
LONDON (Alliance News) - Stagecoach Group PLC on Monday confirmed that it partnered with bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Ltd and technology company Fusion Processing to roll-out driverless single deck buses in the UK.
The FTSE 250-listed transport operator will trial the autonomous buses to operate without a driver when off-highway.
Addition to the bus technology will also deliver road safety benefits when driven in manual mode, the company added.
The 12 metres ADL Enviro200 vehicle is currently being developed and the company expects it to be ready for use by the end of the year.
"In the short term, the bus will be used in autonomous mode only within the depot environment, to carry out movements such as parking and moving into the fuelling station and bus wash," Stagecoach added.
Due to legal restrictions, the bus will not yet operate without a driver when transporting passengers. Although Stagecoach added that "over time" the autonomous bus technology is expected to be used more widely, including when carrying passengers.
The improvements added to the technology of the bus, when in manual mode, will however, improve safety of road users from the start.
"For example, when the bus is driven in manual mode, the sensor system on the bus, whilst not engaged to drive the vehicle, can still be used to provide assistance to the driver by warning of cyclists or pedestrians that may be in the blind spot or arrive unexpectedly close to the vehicle," the company explained.
Stagecoach shares closed down 0.1% at 169.90 pence each.
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