Edinburgh is now home to the world’s first autonomous large buses operating on a regular route. The buses, which can travel up to 80 km/h, are part of the AB1 bus line, which spans 22.5 kilometers and includes the Forth Road Bridge over the Firth of Forth. The five modified Enviro200 Single Decker buses are equipped with the Automated Driving System (ADS) from Fusion Processing, which enables Level 4 and 5 autonomous driving. While Scotland currently only allows up to Level 4 autonomy, the buses must still be monitored by a human driver. The Stagecoach operator has trained 20 bus drivers for this purpose, and the project is being overseen by scientists from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and Edinburgh Napier University.
The autonomous buses rely on a variety of data collected by multiple cameras, LiDAR, and radar systems to adapt dynamically to traffic situations. They are also connected to traffic lights, allowing them to travel in sync with green lights. The project, which took ten years of preparation, underwent a testing process covering 1.8 million kilometers. During the test period, which will continue until 2025, each bus is accompanied by two people: one monitoring the autonomous system from the driver’s seat and the other checking passenger tickets and answering questions. This second person also serves as a demonstration of a potential future where drivers can leave their seats during the journey.
The success of this project could pave the way for more autonomous buses on regular routes, reducing the need for human drivers and potentially improving safety and efficiency. However, it remains to be seen how quickly and widely this technology will be adopted, as regulations and public acceptance may pose significant challenges. Nonetheless, the world’s first autonomous bus line in Edinburgh is a significant milestone in the development of autonomous transportation.
