City bus automation - bus trains, bus stop docking and depot processes
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Volvo Bussar AB - Avd 8000 ARHK6N |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 10 639 322 |
| Project duration | October 2017 - December 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Traffic safety and automated vehicles -FFI |
| End-of-project report | 2017-03033sv.pdf(pdf, 2508 kB) (In Swedish) |
Important results from the project
Object to gradually use in different application autonomous driving or autonomous driver support in order to eventually be able to benefit from the technology in real traffic for a 12 m bus. The overall goal of the project has been to develop automated driving of electrified buses with high traffic safety and capacity as well as with a low energy consumption and total cost of society. Project has indeed shown that autonomous buses have great potential, but that it is also incredibly complex to drive on public roads in mixed traffic with other road users who drive manually.
Expected long term effects
Bus trains increase line capacity without extending the time for passages through intersections and stops. Outcome - Timetable needs to be adjusted as bus stops for bus trains take longer. Short stop times with high safety, which enables a time-efficient boarding and alighting, reducing tire wear. Outcome - travel comfort and precision increase markedly can lead to more efficient stops. Autonomous driving between different stations within the bus depot increases efficiency and reduces the need for space. Outcome - clearly reduces the number of manual transfers within the depot.
Approach and implementation
The project has been carried out in an iterative development process between system development, integration, and test / verification. The requirements in each application drive development that is simulated / verified before the solution is implemented in vehicles. In parallel with technical development work, applications of the technology have been studied theoretically in workshop with different stakeholders, such as traffic offices, public transport authorities, public transport operators and others. with the aim of expressing technical requirements and needs.