The RAC Intellibus™, supported by the State Government and the City of South Perth, has been transporting passengers along South Perth Esplanade between the Old Mill and Sir James Mitchell Park.
RAC General Manager Public Policy, Anne Still, said the trial was one of the most progressive in the world and had generated a lot of public interest.
“More than 6,000 people have so far registered to be part of the trial which is an incredibly positive indication of the amount of interest there is in this technology and the possibilities it could bring for the State,” she said.
“WA is truly leading the way when it comes to testing autonomous vehicle technology. While this is the first trial of driverless technology in Australia, in terms of complexity it is also one of the most progressive shuttle trials in the world.
“So far, the RAC Intellibus has completed 357 trips and travelled 1,050 kilometres, almost the distance from Perth to Coral Bay.
“The trial will continue at South Perth to allow more people to use, experience and share their views on the technology so we can continue to explore the future impact it will have on WA.”
RAC wants to see more public trials around the country, not only to better understand the implications of autonomous vehicles, but also to help increase community awareness and input into this new era of mobility.
“We are learning so much from the RAC Intellibus™ trial because it’s the first time this technology has been tested on this scale in a real world, local environment,” Ms Still said.
“Importing the bus from France was a challenge in itself. All vehicles being imported must comply with the Australian Design Rules, for example ensuring it has a steering wheel on the right hand side rather than the left.
“The Intellibus has no steering wheel at all, or a driver’s seat, brake pads, peddles or an accelerator. We were bringing in something entirely new.”
The trial means RAC is uniquely able to contribute to the national debate about regulatory frameworks and the future impact of the technology in Australia, and has recently made submissions to a number of national inquiries.
The RAC Intellibus™ is fully electric and driverless and uses light detection and ranging (LIDAR), stereovision cameras, GPS, odometry and autonomous emergency braking to detect and avoid obstacles and keep its precise geographic location.
Members of the public can register online to participate in the trial at rac.com.au/intellibus
RAC Intellibus™ facts and stats:
- Distance travelled: 1,050 kilometres
- Age of oldest participant: 100 years
- 97 per cent of participants agree that driverless buses, like the RAC IntellibusTM, could be used as a service in WA in the future.
- Most frequently suggested locations for driverless buses are: Rottnest Island, Perth Airport, aged care facilities, hospitals, Kings Park and a service similar to CAT buses.
