Australia's first driverless bus trial turns one

Australia's first driverless shuttle trial turned a year old this week, during which the bus has clocked up more than 4200 km in autonomous mode. The RAC Intellibus has made around 1500 thirty-minute trips, carrying more than 4300 passengers around its route on open road in South Perth. The autonomous bus – which can reach speeds of 45km per hour, but averages at around 25km per hour – is fully electric and uses light detection and ranging (LIDAR), stereovision cameras, GPS, odometry and autonomous emergency braking to detect and avoid obstacles and maintain its course. It is considered to have'Level 4' automation (as defined by SAE International standards) which means the vehicle can perform all safety critical driving functions without any occupants. Nevertheless, the bus has a'chaperone' whom can take the wheel (actually a Playstation controller) if needed.