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The first bus without a driver in Trikala

16 February 2014 / 16:02:30  GRReporter
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A small bus without a driver crosses the central streets of Trikala. The small futuristic vehicle passes almost unnoticed: it is electric and therefore does not make a noise and emits no pollutants. This is the first bus without a driver to circulate in a European city and scientists expect comments from its experimental operation with great interest.

This description does not apply to the distant future, but it will become a reality in a few months. Trikala is the first of five European regions which will test automated buses without drivers experimentally. "And it is also the only urban area, since the other places include 4 campuses, exhibition spaces and suburban areas," explained Odisseas Raptis, CEO of e-trikala, the municipal company which manages the project.

A route of 1,200 metres

Trikala collected the highest score among 12 European cities applying for the implementation of the CityMobil2 (Cities Demonstrating Cybernetic Mobility) programme. The programme, which is funded by the Seventh EU Framework Programme for research and technological development, refers to the creation of a pilot platform for automated transport, which will be tested in various settings in Europe. According to the programme, the aim is not to replace bus drivers with computers, but to create new means of public transportation to complement the existing ones.

We will receive 6 vehicles for six months within the programme," said Raptis. "The bus without a driver will move along a specially designed route of 1,200 metres on Karaiskaki Steet, 28 Oktovriou Street and 25 Martiou Street and there will be 6 stops. At the end of the month we will go to the Netherlands in order to discuss various technical issues and hope to get the buses at the end of the summer. It would be very useful for scientists to test the buses under various weather conditions, ranging from 40 degrees Celsius in August to the wet autumn and cold winter," he added. The bus moves at a low speed of about 20 km/hour.

Are crashes possible, mainly because of the Greeks’ disrespect of traffic regulations?" I think crashes are impossible," said Raptis. "The bus moves slowly. Moreover, it is equipped with sensors everywhere and stops even at small obstacles - for example, if a ball goes out onto the street. In any case, the bus will always have a controller who will be able to stop it if necessary."

The implementation

For the time being we need to solve a... judicial detail which does not apply to Greece alone, but to all countries in which the pilot programme will be carried out. "We are negotiating with the Ministry of Transport, since the vehicle must obtain registration plates and a traffic permit. And of course, it must also be insured," said Raptis.

"It is very exciting that this project will start from our city. Automated transportation is the future. It will service sparsely populated areas and may replace public transport at night, so that we will have 24 hour transport services... Its potential applications are numerous," added Raptis.

Complements existing vehicles

The automated transfer systems utilize the "cyber- vehicles" technology. According to CityMobil2, these systems are ideal for complementing existing vehicles and offer collective or individual (on request) services. For example, when demand is low or bus stations are far away, these systems may intervene in order to supply the conventional public transport with passengers. Today, there are many forms of automated transportation worldwide, including Group Rapid Transit in Rivium Park Shuttle (the Netherlands), Morgantown (USA), Personal Rapid Transit at Heathrow Airport (UK) and Masdar (the UAE). These systems have proven effective but are difficult to use in urban areas, since they need special road infrastructure. CityMobil2 started in September 2012 and will have a total duration of 4 years. The programme has 45 different partners - from municipalities to researchers.

Tags: buses without a driver experimental programme Trikala Citymobil2
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