Autonomous vehicles are gradually beginning to demonstrate all their technical possibilities worldwide. STIB is not indifferent to such technological advances and in February 2018, decided to follow suit.
With the help of the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), step-by-step, STIB is moving towards road testing a shared autonomous shuttle in Brussels. In practical terms, the RATP is helping us to define a choice of routes for our future test, while providing us with its technical expertise.
“We have been working on this project since February this year”, confirms Philippe Vandewauwer of STIB’s Strategic and Innovation Department.
“We have a partnership with the
RATP (FR), which has already conducted four, increasingly difficult tests.”
Indeed, in the near future, we will have to map the route travelled while arranging the stops and infrastructure dedicated to passengers or the training of support staff, for example. STIB’s vision is clear: consideration is paramount and in no way is this a technological flash in the pan.
Autonomous vehicles on our network as soon as 2019!
The first large scale test is planned in Brussels for the summer of 2019.
The aim of this test (and subsequent ones) is to enable us to assess the behaviour of these autonomous vehicles and, eventually, define their best possible use in order to satisfy your needs and enable you to make the most of this development as a STIB user.
We will test different scenarios and situations so as to optimise your user experience.
In practice, two autonomous shuttles carrying 6 to 10 passengers will be used. Equipped with lidar (laser radars) and a state-of-the-art geolocation system, these shuttles will be able to move without a driver! An agent will ensure on board safety and can answer your questions. There is as yet no confirmation of the test location, but this will certainly mark a milestone in the history of Brussels public transport.
Autonomous vehicles: a response to the last mile
Will we see the Brussels buses, trams and metro disappear in favour of such autonomous vehicles? No way! This offer is above all complementary to the current offer. However, it aims to become a response to the “last mile” issue: a means of public transport for areas which cannot be covered by traditional vehicles, such as hospital or industrial zones.
One thing is sure, summer 2019 is already proving busy for STIB!
