VOLVO

BRAND DOES DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR AUTONOMOUS BUS

Without giving up the driver, autonomous technology will bring safer and more comfortable mobility in the future, with precise boarding and landing maneuvers.The stand-alone demonstration bus is designed to provide a safe, comfortable ride with acceleration and braking without bumps. At boarding points, you can always stop at the same position and distance from the platform, making it easier for passengers to access.Sensors constantly monitor the vehicle environment. The information is used for maneuver guidance and in the future will help avoid accidents by adjusting speed or stopping the bus by identifying proximity to objects.

Detail of the autonomous bus panel

Electromobility and Automation
The basis of the demonstration vehicle is the Volvo electric bus already available in Europe. "With low noise and emissions-free our electric bus is an excellent alternative to sustainable public transport. And now, with different types of automation, we can make even more progress in safety, comfort and efficiency. With the technology of the Volvo Group we are opening new doors for the future ", says Hakan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses.The technology also brings more efficiency when the vehicle is not in operation in traffic. "With stand-alone buses, garage valets can focus on service and maintenance rather than charging batteries, taking the vehicle to the laundromat or parking. The buses of tomorrow will be able to do all this on their own, "says Agnevall.

Smart trains
The autonomous will also be used in research on smart urban trains, where several buses will follow together in a synchronized and safe way, increasing passenger carrying capacity. "Volvo has been a pioneer in high-capacity bus transportation systems, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Now we are taking another step, using automation to make wireless connection between vehicles, creating true "trains" of bus, with high flexibility. By associating electromobility and automation, buses are an attractive alternative to the future of cities when compared to traditional rail systems, "says Agnevall.

Research Project
The demonstration started last weekend during the Volvo Ocean Race race in Gothenburg, Sweden. In the next two years, the bus will be used in automotive research projects - FFI Autonomous Urban Buses and KRABAT.The FFI is the Strategic Program in Research and Innovation, a cooperation between the automotive industry and the Swedish government. KRABAT is part of a joint program of the Swedish government under the name "The next generation of travel and transport", partially funded by Vinnova, through Drive Sweden.Earlier this year, Volvo Buses launched a joint stand-alone electric bus project with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Previously the Volvo Group had already demonstrated autonomous trucks for mining operations, agriculture and garbage collection.The stand-alone Volvo bus is being presented within ElectriCity, a joint research project between research centers, industry and the city of Gothenburg. The goal is to develop new solutions for the next generation of sustainable urban traffic.



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