Self-driving bus manoeuvres around cyclist on first public demonstration

The UK’s first full-size autonomous bus manoeuvred around real-life road features including a cyclist on its first public demonstration.

The vehicle, which uses sensors including radar, lasers, cameras and ultrasound to detect its surroundings, independently negotiated obstacles in the car park of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham during the Coach & Bus UK show.

Members of the public travelled on the 11.5m Alexander Dennis Enviro200 bus as it moved autonomously from a mock-up bus wash to a fuelling station and a bus stop.

Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis and Stagecoach Group developed the vehicle for CAVForth, a public trial starting next year using five autonomous buses on a 15-mile route between Fife and Edinburgh – including the Forth Road Bridge. The buses will operate autonomously to Level 4 standard, meaning a driver must remain on board during any journey, in line with UK regulations.

The vehicle’s autonomy is provided by Fusion Processing’s CAVstar control and sensing system, integrated with the vehicle’s steering, throttle and braking systems. CAVstar was used in the UK’s largest public trial of autonomous vehicles in Greenwich last year, involving a number of other projects including a two-seater Renault Twizy and an off-road vehicle.

“Our industry, our customers and our employees can benefit hugely from autonomous technology as it makes our services safer, more efficient and helps deliver better journeys,” said Stagecoach Group chief executive Martin Griffiths.