The media has been quite exercised lately by the planned trial of Autonomous Buses across the Forth between Ferrytoll and Edinburgh Park.
In early May, a member of EBUG’s Committee took part in a workshop run by Edinburgh Napier University as part of the ‘CAVForth’ trail.
The day’s agenda included: Introduction to the research, project overview, pre-trial surveys, benefits and how to realise them, risks and mitigation, drivers and barriers (to name a few)…
It did not include any trial runs of the buses. On-ground trials, with passengers, start later in 2022 (Monday – Sunday, up to every 20mins; probable route number AB1).
The introduction revealed the answer to ‘what are ABs for?’ (reframed as ‘what are their expected benefits?’) is:
- Safety: elimination of human error
- Reliability: ABs could
- potentially overcome unexpected staff unavailability
- continuously adjust optimal driving to meet local circumstances
- Reduce fuel use
Continue reading “The rise of the Autonomous Bus: what do they have to offer?”