Driverless Bus Starts Trial Trip on Dubai Road
Driverless bus starts its one month trial trip on Dubai.
This driverless mobility project is under the management of Dubai-based company Omnix and Easy Mile of France. The two groups developed a minibus called EZ10 which has an electric motor capable of running back or forth due to its unspecific front and rear design.
This transportation advancement can match other vehicle's speed at forty kilometers per hour and can accommodate ten heads. The driverless bus loaded with 15Kv battery and can run for maximum of four to ten hours also adapts to the speed of other surrounding vehicles and stops whenever a pedestrian crosses a road due to installed cameras and sensors.
Access ramps are also movable to aid passengers on wheelchair in boarding and leaving the bus.
Its debut on the road ran a seven hundred meter distance in Downtown Dubai. During its trial period, commuters can take a ride for free, Asia Times reported.
Despite of being rich in oil, the fastest developing city in the Middle East aims to apply modern technologies such as the driverless vehicle. This is intended to attract tourists and boost the nation's economy.
Director general and chairman Mattar Al Tayer of the Road Transport Authority (RTA) Board of Executive Directors stated that "This experiment is part of the RTA's plan to test driverless transit technology under the climatic environment of Dubai. Through this trial RTA intends to educate the public about autonomous cars technology."
It also has virtual routes that can be easily controlled in case of sudden requirement changes. Its sensors and cameras enable the vehicle to avoid possible collisions.
Gulf News reported that it may take the routes of Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera, Dubai Kall and Soul al Bahar which are all popular tourist destinations.
Apart from the Persian gulf nation, driverless buses are also expected to be on journey in other cities across the globe. Last week, smaller driverless vehicles took their trial run in Singapore.