Hands-off approach at UK's first autonomous bus trial

Bus drivers are taking a hands-off approach at a depot in Manchester, where the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus is being trialled.

The single-decker, 11.5m ADL Enviro200 vehicle is driving autonomously, trying manoeuvres such as parking and moving into the bus wash.

Software from the project, being run by operator Stagecoach, manufacturer Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) and technology company Fusion Processing, will be used in a major trial next year. Five autonomous buses will carry passengers across the Forth Road Bridge between Fife and Edinburgh.

The bus being trialled in Manchester uses the CAVstar control and sensing system, including radar, lidar, optical cameras and ultrasound. It also includes satellite navigation to detect and avoid objects and plan optimum paths for the vehicle.

The vehicles in the depot and Forth Road Bridge trials are at level-four autonomy, meaning a driver must remain on board to ensure safety and to stay in line with UK regulations.

“It’s our job to lead the way in looking at ways to continually progress and improve our operations for the good of the many people who use our bus services every day,” said Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths.

The technology being trialled could provide future road safety benefits for non-driverless vehicles, the project partners said. For instance, the sensor system can provide warnings about cyclists or pedestrians in a vehicle’s blind spot.

“This trial allows us to evaluate potential benefits of autonomous technology in a real-world scenario, and feeds into our extensive work to further improve the safety of buses with the help of state-of-the-art technology,” said Colin Robertson, chief executive of ADL.