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Volvo Buses, in collaboration with Swedish public transport companies VL and Svealandstrafiken VL, plans to initiate a trial of an “innovative” self-driving support system for bus drivers in Västerås, Sweden.
Developed by Volvo Buses, the new system is part of the EU eBRT2030 project, which seeks to establish a foundation for sustainable and commercial autonomous solutions.
Following successful tests in controlled environments, the technology is now planned to be assessed under real-world conditions using a Volvo 7900 Electric bus on route 1 in Västerås.
Volvo Buses lead project manager Joakim Jonsson said: "Although fully self-driving buses without safety drivers in public transport systems are a thing of the far distant future, with the help of this type of new technology we can add value in a number of areas today.
“For example, we hope to be able to minimise the monotonous tasks that drivers have to carry out, which will improve their working environment.
“The new technology can also help to reduce wear and damage to the buses, make travelling more comfortable for passengers and increase road safety.”
The six-month trial is planned to commence during the spring of 2025.
This technology is designed to autonomously navigate buses into and out of bus stops, aiming to alleviate driver stress, enhance passenger safety and comfort, and reduce environmental impact.
The self-driving support system is expected to standardise bus movement patterns, ensuring consistent stopping positions and distances from pavements or platforms.
By automating the process of entering and exiting bus stops, the system allows drivers to focus more on the surrounding traffic, potentially reducing physical strain on drivers.
Svealandstrafiken technology and innovation head Geert Schaap said: “We believe that the self-driving support system has big advantages for bus drivers and for us as operators. And it will, of course, help to encourage more new technical developments.
“The technology can also help to reduce wear and damage to the tyres, which in turn leads to cost savings and a lower environmental impact, and this is very important for society as a whole.
“We've identified several other potential applications for this type of technology. Being able to drive vehicles autonomously to the wash bay or the charging area in the bus depot, for example, will allow us to increase our efficiency.”
The trial will be accompanied by a scientific study conducted in partnership with Chalmers University of Technology to evaluate the experience of both drivers and passengers.