The World's First All Electric Autonomous Bus Is Here, Thanks To Volvo & University Researchers

Autonomous technology is being actively sought by several auto makers and in some cases, teams of engineering students as well as university researchers are helping them out.

One such example has now surfaced where Volvo has partnered with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to unveil a 12-metre autonomous electric bus, which is being deemed as the world¡¯s first of its kind.

In a development programme being worked upon by both the auto major and the university, a single-deck Volvo 7900 Electric bus has been produced. The 36-seater vehicle accommodates 80 people on board. Being all-electric, the autonomous bus is a zero emission vehicle that claims to be requiring 80 percent less energy than an equivalent capacity diesel model.

Volvo Autonomous, Electric Bus (Image: Gwyneth Teo)

For its autonomous part, the bus is equipped with an artificial intelligence (AI) system drawing its inputs from many sensors as well as navigation controls. The sensors on board include light detection and ranging sensors while stereo-vision cameras for 3D imaging couple to them. Additionally, an advanced global navigation satellite system with location accuracy of up to 1 cm has been used, which in turn draws its data from multiple sources.

The AI system comes as a courtesy of the NTU researchers, who claim that the system will allow the autonomous bus to make its way through dense traffic under tropical weather conditions. The system even appoints safety measures against cyber intrusions, as claimed by the researchers.

(Image: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

While this is Volvo¡¯s first fully autonomous and electric bus being used for public transportation, the NTU university has been involved in several such projects. Driverless vehicle technologies have been under works in the university over the last few years, with NTU even having fully automated mini buses running on its roads as a part of another project in collaboration with SMRT Services and 2getthere, a Dutch autonomous vehicles manufacturer. In 2018, NTU researchers reportedly made a breakthrough in light detection and ranging sensors, potentially lowering the cost by up to 200 times.

The launch of the fully autonomous and electric bus comes as a part of a partnership between NTU and Land Transport Authority (LTA). Eventually meant for the fixed routes and scheduled services, the preliminary testing of the autonomous bus has been completed and it will soon enter a trial phase on the university¡¯s roads.

Subsequently, another such bus will begin with its testing round at an SMRT bus depot in April.

The idea is to check the autonomous capability of the vehicle to enter parking spots as well as washing bays.

Volvo is aiming to propel its dream for safer and smarter vehicles with this invention. Meanwhile, NTU President, Professor Subra Suresh believes that the fully autonomous electric bus will "play a role in shaping the future of public transportation."

A similar invention was recently seen in India when a team of LPU students came up with the world's first autonomous bus powered by solar energy, an even cleaner source of energy than the electric drivetrains.