The zero-emission vehicle is a joint venture by Volvo Buses, the Swedish automobile firm and Nanyang Technology University (NTU), Singapore. Reportedly, the trial of 12 meters long Volvo 7900 electric bus has begun in Singapore.
The single deck bus has a capacity of 80 passengers with 36 seats installed. The bus would take 80 percent less energy than the equivalent capacity diesel bus. This trial would supposedly take place at the NTU’s campus where a mini-town is developed for trials and the researchers of the university who assisted in the development of the bus will supervise the artificial intelligence development of the vehicle.
Bus equipped with the ground-breaking technologies
The bus is armed with sensors and navigation controls which are managed by an AI system. It is also supported by cybersecurity measures to prevent uninvited intrusions by providing maximum safety and reliability to the AI system. Moreover, the bus is featured with light detectors and ranging sensors (LIDARS), 360-degree cameras, 3D picture taking.
Notably, the advanced global navigation satellite system is offered that uses real-time kinematics and uses multiple data sources to give very precise location accuracy up to one centimeter. Further, the ‘inertial management unit’ is installed in the vehicle to measure its lateral and angular rear that would eventually improve the navigation when traveling over bumpy land. The data collected from the trials will be used to enhance technology.
A step towards a smarter city
Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses, at the launch of the trial said, “We are very proud to be showcasing our electric bus featuring autonomous driving technology. It represents a key milestone for the industry and is an important step towards our vision for a cleaner, safer and smarter city. The journey towards full autonomy is undoubtedly a complex one, and our valued partnership with the NTU and LTA is critical in realizing this vision, as is our commitment to applying a safety-first approach.”
Commenting about the first full-sized, autonomous electric bus in the world he said, “We really think that autonomous (vehicles) can really transform public transport, it’s about safety, it’s about operational efficiency, and it’s also about creating new opportunities for urban planning.”
