Self-driving Buses: A Reality in Germany

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Germany has revealed its plans to fully integrate self-driving shuttles into public transportation. This decision is the first of its kind in the world. The intelligent software for the autonomous on-demand transport service will be provided by Loki, a DB company, and its specially developed interface (API) will enable the smooth integration of the software of the autonomous vehicles with its on-demand platform. 

This already proven digital tech, which successfully operated across several cities in a German district, is expected to continue its expansion into the rest of Germany. According to IoTworldtoday.com, at the start of 2019, there were a dozen services, but by the end of this year, there are expected to be more than 80.

“Autonomous driving on-demand is an important step toward a better public transport offer in the area and thus more climate-friendly mobility in Germany,” said Dr Jörg Sandvoß, CEO of DB subsidiary DB Regio, which operates regional transport service.

“Together with the RMV we want to bring the world’s first autonomous on-demand fleet in the regular operation of public transport to the streets in the coming year,” he said. “Because it is only with driverless shuttles that are on the road at normal speeds that we [will] create a public transport system into which people can enter anywhere and at any time.”

Interested in learning more about innovation in autonomous and robotic systems? Attend AUS&R 2022 Conference and Exhibition on unmanned systems, robotics, and smart mobility on July 13, 2022, at Expo Tel Aviv.