#driverless bus

A driverless bus, currently being trialed in the UK.

For safety reasons two employees will be on the bus at all times.

You could do it with one. Just call him the driver!

Today, consumers are increasingly replacing the concept of my vehicle with the concept of a vehicle that comes to me when I want it.

A plethora of options is making multimodality in transportation a daily reality for many. For example, a shopper might pick up an e-scooter waiting on a street corner to drive to a shopping destination, drop it off at the entrance, and then hop on a bus to return home.

This new ecosystem of multimodal transportation is helping people easily get from point A to point B, especially in urban, high-density areas ― unencumbered by the responsibility of vehicle ownership or operation.

Riding the express to success: It’s all about trust

In addition to new business models, transportation technology itself is rapidly evolving. One emerging technology that could be a game changer for multimodal transportation is the autonomous vehicle (AV). The successful integration of multiple supporting technologies will be essential to the success of autonomous vehicles as they are incorporated into various transportation systems.

Reliable data - about the vehicle, its environment and its passengers - is the backbone of a smart, connected mobility ecosystem. However, privacy, consumer safety, and security concerns still need to be addressed.

Overcoming Privacy and Security Barriers to Build Public Trust

Through 'privacy by design' technique - embedding data privacy and security directly in the ecosystem design phase rather than incorporating them as afterthoughts.

When it comes to safety, one puzzle to be solved is localization — knowing exactly where a vehicle is relative to its surroundings. Another is accurate trajectory planning; for example, how a vehicle will make a turn at an upcoming signal or intersection. Solving these two challenges will shed light on how the vehicle will maneuver in a complex, dense urban environment. From there, key technologies such as high-definition maps and remote vehicle control systems that leverage 5G can be developed to refine the interaction between the vehicle and the infrastructure.

Transforming the Industry While Building Public Trust

With decades of experience and core technologies in the automotive industry, Hitachi is deeply engaged in the development of technologies that are driving the multimodal explosion. For example, Hitachi has developed or co-developed in-vehicle weather intelligence, environmentally friendly engine management systems, and stereo cameras for improved automatic emergency braking at intersections.

Directly addressing the issue of public trust, Hitachi has developed both a next-generation smart navigation solution to enhance localization and a high-precision trajectory tracking technology to improve the safety of AVs on public roads.

Many organizations have joined the effort to mass-deploy connected technologies, including AVs, and win consumer confidence. But it’s not yet a fully coordinated effort. At Hitachi, we’ll continue to champion these types of joint efforts while developing innovative technology that can make multimodal or futuristic transportation mainstream.

By leveraging groundbreaking innovation, together we can evolve a reliable, safe and dependable system ― one that the public understands and trusts. When we do, the future of smart mobility will be wide open.

Learn how Hitachi is powering futuristic transportation 

Discover how Hitachi is unlocking value for society with Sustainable Innovation in Transportation:

The idea for the trip came through a news report. The Municipality of Trikala announced a pilot scheme for a bus without a driver. It was the ideal occasion to get to know up close this small Thessalian city, which has become synonymous with innovation over the past years.

And it’s set to continue with new projects in the pipeline.

The main road leads to Trikala’s beautiful footbridge, built in 1886 by French engineers, connecting the shopping street of Asclepius with the city’s main square.

Under the metal bridge flows the Litheos river, a tributary of the Pinios, which runs throughout the city.

It is said that the ancient physician Asclepius was born on the river’s banks, which are now lined with tall trees and make a terrific spot for taking walks.

Driverless buses began trial operation in the Netherlands

According to Reuter’s reports, the French company EasyMile seems self-driving cars. Google one step ahead. Before the first vehicles unmanned mini-buses Wageningen University in the Netherlands started to transport passengers. This is an open test for the first time in Europe.

EasyMile is a joint venture by the French and Indian companies, WEpod pilot project is designed to transport Citymobil2…

The famous driverless bus of Trikala probably needs a driver or new settings. Several pedestrians got scared this morning to see that the town jewel lost its orientation,  and stranded on the sidewalk in the middle of the town. The bus halted what it seems one meter away from a local kiosk.

The automatic driverless bus went in full operation in autumn 2014 in the town of Trikala in central Greece. It is the first pilot program of this kind across Greece.