Frequently asked questions
Got questions about AV technology and our trial? We've got answers
The RAC Intellibus® was Australia’s first automated vehicle trial on public roads. Launched in 2016, the RAC Intellibus® gave passengers in South Perth, Busselton and Geraldton a unique view of the technology.
About the RAC Intellibus® trial
The RAC Intellibus® trial broke new ground in autonomous transport. it helped position Western Australia at the forefront of this new technology.
The driverless bus travelled over 38,000 kilometres across metropolitan and regional Western Australia. It gave more than 28,000 passengers the chance to experience the technology firsthand.
The trial explored the potential road safety benefits of autonomous vehicles. Some of the technology is now fairly common in modern vehicles. This includes features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control.
The RAC Intellibus® trial informed policy, regulatory frameworks, safety standards, and public understanding of autonomous mobility. It has helped prepare the community for the next generation of safer and more connected transport.
Did you know...
28,755
Passengers have been onboard for a ride
38,573.3 kms
Have been travelled on public roads
96% of passengers
Rated their participation in the Intellibus® trial as positive to extremely positive
About the vehicle
The RAC Intellibus® was a fully electric Navya ARMA autonomous shuttle that could drive itself within a specific area. It was equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and positioning systems. It demonstrated that autonomous vehicles could be used safely on public roads.
Regional experiences
Busselton
The RAC Intellibus® visited Busselton from 8 May to 30 June 2019 for eight weeks. It provided 1596 residents and visitors with first-hand exposure to autonomous vehicle technology and its potential benefits.
The experience started outside the Busselton Visitor Centre, located on the beautiful Busselton foreshore. It then headed east along Geographe Bay Road to the Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Centre.
Geraldton
The RAC Intellibus® visited Geraldton from 16 September to 10 December 2020.The Geraldton experience was a 2.8km journey along the foreshore, between Marine Terrace and the Museum of Geraldton. The bus travelled a total of 1761.2km and navigated over 7500 roundabouts.
A total of 2070 residents and visitors had the chance to enjoy the autonomous vehicle. This number included students from the RAC Imagine Program.
Regional results
These regional experiences provided valuable insights into the performance of autonomous vehicles outside the metropolitan area. In turn, this highlighted the potential application of driverless, electric shuttles as a future transport option in regional towns.
RAC Imagine Program™
This exciting program brought year 5 and 6 students face to face with autonomous vehicle technology through a day of hands-on exploration. It was launched on 3 September 2019 with support from the City of South Perth.
The program addressed STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) and HASS (humanities and social science) topics. It linked road safety and mobility to the Australian curriculum.
Students visited the Old Mill in South Perth, where they participated in six planned activities. These included a ride on the RAC Intellibus® and a tour of the Old Mill. Students explored AV technology and the future of transport, and learned about the connection between coding and road safety. They also watched the RAC Rescue helicopters in action and got ‘hands-on’ by creating a recycled sculpture.
The program was expanded to Geraldton, running four days a week for four weeks. Across both locations, 4621 students participated.
Trial conclusion
After nearly seven years operating on public roads, the automated vehicle trial came to an end on 30 June 2023.
The RAC Intellibus® travelled 38,566kms through South Perth, Busselton and Geraldton. It gave 28,744 passengers the chance to experience automated vehicle technology firsthand. After riding on the Intellibus®, 98 per cent of passengers said they could see driverless vehicles operating in WA in the near future.
The trial earned multiple national awards and industry recognition. The RAC Intellibus® has a permanent place in Western Australia’s transport and cultural landscape.
The RAC Intellibus® is now displayed at the Motor Museum of Western Australia. It’s commemorated by the R/evolve public artwork that sits on the South Perth foreshore.
We collaborated with government, industry and community partners on the program. It helped develop a roadmap for how autonomous vehicles can contribute to a safer, more sustainable and better-connected future.
Participant feedback
“Having the various aspects of autonomous driving explained to me in terms I could understand made me realise how much safer the Intellibus, as a driver, is safer than me.” Passenger
“It’s a wonderful use of modern technology and also very informative, it has even made me think more about my own driving habits.” Geraldton passenger
“Safety is paramount and if we were to take humans out of the equation, I feel driverless vehicles would have lower accident statistics.” South Perth passenger
“Autonomous vehicles like this are absolutely the future and the next 10–20 years in this space will be world altering.” South Perth passenger
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This trial was made possible through partnership with
