Fusion Processing, a UK-based company specializing in self-driving system development, has reported launching the first fully autonomous passenger bus in London. Once five prototypes have wrapped up their tests, they will begin transporting passengers in the country.
The project is called CAVForth and involves buses with SAE Level 4 autonomous driving tech on board. This means the driving is fully autonomous by default, but conventional controls are still available for emergencies. For two weeks, the fleet will run along a 22.5-kilometer (14-mile) long road in Edinburgh under operator supervision. If everything goes as smoothly as it did in computer-based simulations and on test grounds, the system will enter commercial use.
The company says each bus can carry up to 36 passengers, which means a weekly line throughput of around 10,000 passengers.
A couple of controllers will supervise the buses for the first time, talk to the passengers and answer their questions regarding the self-driving technology. They will alternate between sitting behind the steering wheel and walking along the aisle to demonstrate that the buses are, in fact, capable of full autonomy.
Full-scale passenger transportations remain scheduled for late 2022.