After 1.5 months of road testing, the NUSmart Shuttle, a fully autonomous shuttle will begin passenger service at the National University of Singapore.
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The NUSmart Shuttle, an EasyMile EZ10 autonomous shuttle will begin passenger service from 30 July 2019 at the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Kent Ridge campus after one and a half months of road testing.
The EasyMile EZ10 utilises a full range of sensors and its internal software to detect and avoid obstacles
EasyMile is a pioneer in driverless technology and smart mobility solutions. It has deployed over 230 driverless projects with more than 320,000 people transported over 600,000km with clients including the world's largest transport operators, city authorities, airports, corporations, business parks and universities such as NUS.The EasyMile EZ10 runs entirely on electricity, carries up to 12 people and is also able to accommodate a wheelchair, with an in-built access ramp for mobility challenged passengers. It operates along a predefined route, utilising a full range of sensors to detect and avoid potential obstacles. The EZ10 relies on its internal array of software and hardware technology, including lidars, radars, cameras, inertial measurement unit, differential GPS and odometry for its navigation on the roads, without any assistance from external infrastructures.
The NUSmart Shuttle will operate from Mondays to Fridays at 20 minute intervals between 10:20am and 11:20am as well as between 2:20pm and 3:20pm during the initial phase of the trial. The operating hours will be extended progressively during the trial. Each 1.6km trip starts from the innovation 4.0 (i4.0) building, travelling between Heng Mui Keng Terrace and Business Link, making stops opposite the Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library and BIZ 2 building. It will be a free to all commuters. During the initial phase of the trial the shuttle will not operate when it rains. During the year-long trial, a Safety Operator will be on board to address enquiries from commuters while ensuring safe operation of the vehicle.
The NUSmart Shuttle runs entirely on electricity and carries up to 12 people
This is the first autonomous shuttle bus to be operated by a land transport operator, ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd, in real mixed traffic conditions, alongside regular buses, cars and motorcycles. Mr Yang Ban Seng, ComfortDelGro Managing Director and Group CEO said, "This passenger service trial provides us with an opportunity to observe how passengers respond to an autonomous vehicle.""Autonomous vehicles have great potential as a promising mobility solution. The knowledge and experience gained from this trial will bring us closer to the day when autonomous vehicles become a common safe mode of transport, and with citizens who are comfortable with embracing new technologies, we can then further entrench Singapore's standing as a smart nation," said Professor Yong Kwet Yew, NUS Senior Vice President (Campus Infrastructure).
The trial is in line with NUS' ongoing efforts to build a smart, safe and sustainable campus, it is funded and imported by Inchcape Singapore, which also provides technical expertise on vehicle type approval.