This Futuristic Autonomous Bus Is Tested In Europe

Auto-Shuttle. (Doc. Aurrigo)

JAKARTA - Aurrigo, a UK-based technology company, will pilot their autonomous mini bus called Auto-Shuttle at an exhibition in Prague City, Czech Republic.

Launching the company's official website, September 19, residents of Prague City and exhibition visitors have the opportunity to try the future of public transportation for free from this weekend until October 5. This initiative also aims to assess the potential for driverless public transportation in Europe.

For this bus, Aurrigo is working with Living Lab for Autonomous Electric Vehicles, funded by the European Union, and the project is headed by University College London. The manufacturer's Auto-Shuttle vehicle currently operates in Prague and Brno, Czech Republic, as well as in Milton Keynes, England.

Aurrigo is not a new name in the automotive world, starting in 1993 when David Keene, with extensive experience in developing electronics and software for the automotive industry, sees loopholes in the market for technology-based engineering companies that can design, develop and manufacture innovative products and solutions for premium cars.

Aurrigo grew into a trusted supplier to companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Bentley, but the turning point actually occurred in 2016 when the company began developing autonomous vehicles.

In this trial, autonomous buses are still accompanied by human operators inside who can take over if something goes wrong. However, Aurrigo also plans to remove the human operator and replace it with a remote watchdog who is not on the bus, but can still take over in case of a problem. In this way, they hope users will get used to using driverless buses, while fully autonomous technology continues to be developed.

"Cities face challenges such as reducing emissions, increasing the safety and mobility of cyclists or pedestrians, as well as improving the quality of life of their citizens. Driverless buses or pods can be a major change for cities as they address many of these challenges, "said Bani Anvari, a professor at University College London, who worked closely with Aurrigo on the project, quoted from Carscoops, September 20.

Auto-Shuttle relies on LiDAR technology, as well as cameras and software developed by Aurrigo itself to provide a clear and consistent picture of the world around it. The company says it is working with a strong security framework to implement responsible technologies.

"The historic rocky streets of Prague, built before dreams of a car or bus, differ greatly from modern roads in Milton Keynes, which demonstrate the importance of testing in various cities," said David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo.

With this trial, the Living Lab for Autonomous Electric Vehicles project is expected to provide valuable insight into the future of autonomous public transportation in Europe. And if this test runs smoothly, it will provide more efficient and sustainable transportation solutions in cities across the continent.