ENU is a partner in the CAVForth II project
A project involving Edinburgh Napier University to develop the world’s first fully sized, self-driving bus service in Edinburgh is on course to start carrying passengers in the spring.
CAVForth II has been awarded £10.4million in UK government and industry funding, following its first trial with volunteers on board the journey over the Forth Road Bridge between Edinburgh Park and Ferrytoll park-and-ride in Fife.
This will allow operator Stagecoach to build on the pilot by testing and refining the commercial service model, from the current ‘captained’ service, with a staff member onboard, to future deployments with smaller vehicles which could operate with no staff on board.
ENU’s role in the project has centred around studying people’s attitudes towards automated buses, their experiences on board and see how the services could change how they choose to get around.
Other partners in the project include Fusion Processing Ltd, Alexander Dennis Limited and the University of the West of England.
Professor Achille Fonzone from ENU’s School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment said: “Automation is a game changer for mobility – and for buses it is a step on the right direction, which promises increased safety, energy savings, less emissions, and enhanced services.
“The more people are attracted to bus journeys by automation, the brighter the future of transportation will be. CAV Forth is a world first project and we are proud to work with our partners to understand what matters to people to deliver that bright future.
“By participating, Edinburgh Napier University will strengthen its position as world leader in the research about bus passengers and automation.”
Lucy Downey, Research Assistant at ENU's Transport Research Institute said: "This project offers us a unique opportunity to study the impact of emerging bus automation technology on attitudes, perceptions and behaviours of passengers.
"Evaluation of these impacts will provide insights into the potential role of autonomous technology in attracting more passengers to bus services and enhancing the role of public transport in the mobility system of the future."
UK government Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In just a few years’ time, the business of self-driving vehicles could add tens of billions to our economy and create tens of thousands of jobs across the UK. This is a massive opportunity to drive forward our priority to grow the economy, which we are determined to seize.
“The support we are providing will help our transport and technology pioneers steal a march on the global competition, by turning their bright ideas into market-ready products sooner than anyone else.”