Autonomous road vehicles

[ozbob]

Will autonomous cars change the role and value of public transportation?

> http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2015/06/23/will-autonomous-cars-change-the-role-and-value-of-public-transportation/

[verbatim9]

Driverless tech is run by Google therefore will be rolled out by them over the next years to come. First cars then truck logistics and then Public Transport

[ozbob]

New Daily --> Why driverless cars are not the future

[verbatim9]

I think it will happen, especially for taxi and freight movement.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> No bumps in the road in Australia's first public demonstration of driverless cars

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Driverless cars 'could be on roads by 2020', Volvo predicts ahead of first Australian trial

[ozbob]

Human Transit --> Guest Post: Autonomous Vehicles and the VMT Problem

[hU0N]

Human Transit --> Guest Post: Autonomous Vehicles and the VMT Problem

I read this article on HT.

The challenge (I think) is that transitioning to a lower VMT transit model will inevitably lead to changes to our urban form that will be largely unwelcome, popularly and politically.

It is a general observation that cities are (and over time have quite stably remained) defined by the area within 30 minutes travel of the centre via the dominant transport mode.

Like it or not, this means that Australian cities and many American cities have grown to occupy the maximum area that can be supported by the high VMT model, which is to say the maximum area that can reach the centre within 30 minutes of high speed freeway driving.

Any shift towards a lower VMT model will almost certainly shrink the maximum area of any city where it is adopted, because all shared modes of transport (be they shared taxis or express trains) require some level of detour, delay or slow travel (compared to driving yourself at 100kph on a freeway). This is just the way things work.

The problem is on the fringe. Imagine you own a house at Dakabin or Yatala or somewhere else on the fringe. You are functionally within the city limits, and therefore exposed to the city housing market and all the increased demand that brings. But only just. And only because the dominant mode of transportation is high speed freeway driving. If the community as a whole shifted to a lower VMT transit model, perhaps you need to sell up and move because your commute that was ok as a 30 minute drive is intolerable as a 65 minute bus ride. Problem is, your house, that was a well priced option for city workers when they used to drive is now not even a consideration for those buyers now they catch the bus.

That's the problem. Lowering VMT shrinks cities. And when it does, it vaporizes the wealth of people already on the fringe. How do you sell that?

So instead we build more roads. Not because we like them, but as a means to temporarily protect the investments of fringe dwellers by propping up a city limit that has grown unsustainable.

[ozbob]

Human Transit --> Self-Driving Cars: A Coming Congestion Disaster?

[ozbob]

Twitter

PTUA ‏@ptua 38m

New on the PTUA Transport Myths web site: Will self-driving cars cut congestion and make public transport obsolete?

http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/robotcar/

[ozbob]

PLANETIZEN --> New Research: Planning for Cars That Drive Themselves

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Driverless cars could make Melbourne congestion worse

[ozbob]

TMR --> Lessons from Europe – report from InterTraffic Trade Show

[ozbob]

A driverless bus trial on Perth roads.Look mum no hands! Listen here @RACWA @GilloArvos https://t.co/Ikw5T49tJz pic.twitter.com/yunCwRuC3T

— 720 ABC Perth (@720perth) August 31, 2016

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Australia runs risk of driverless cars becoming modern-day version of state railways

[ozbob]

Transport Must-Read: @humantransit shoots down "fantasy of autonomous cars replacing big transit vehicles."https://t.co/eG9AKd7yWc

— Taras Grescoe (@grescoe) October 26, 2016

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> 500 driverless cars coming to Ipswich

FIVE hundred 'intelligent' cars will soon be cruising around on Ipswich roads.

The city has been chosen for a cutting edge trial that will see 500 cars retrofitted with intelligent technology. 

Today a $1.2 million driver-less car, the first ever developed in Australia, will be put on display at Willowbank Raceway where Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey will formally announce the project.   

The trial will see cars retro-fitted with the latest technology.

The "highly-automated" cars will be able to anticipate other driver's behaviour, react to potential danger and communicate with existing road infrastructure such as traffic lights.   

The trial, run by the State Government's Main Roads department, is the first in Queensland and the largest ever undertaken in Australia.

For four years the government will collect data to test the safety of the technology before cars before rolling it out across the state. 

"These devices work by providing safety warnings to the driver about a range of conditions - for example, a pedestrian crossing at a signalised intersection, a red light runner or a queue ahead that isn't visible to a driver," Minister Bailey said.   

Motoring industry leaders, Tom Tom, Bosch Australia, Motor Accident Insurance Commission and CARRS-Q will be part of the project launch. 

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said Ipswich was chosen for the pilot project because of its support for technology and innovation.   

[ozbob]

From TransLink News

Have an opinion on driverless public transport vehicles?

Christina Heffner, from our Customer Services, Safety and Regulation branch in the Department of Transport and Main Roads, is interested in getting your thoughts on driverless public transport vehicles including taxi/ride-sharing, bus, train, ferry and tram in South East Queensland (SEQ).

The survey forms part of a Masters Research study endorsed by the University of Southern Queensland that she is conducting into the perceived barriers and level of acceptance of driverless public transport vehicles in SEQ.

We encourage you to take approximately 15 minutes of your time to complete the survey, which will provide valuable feedback into her research and focus groups.

If you have any questions, you can get in touch with Christina via email Christina.m.heffner@tmr.qld.gov.au

[ozbob]

Driverless buses arrive in Australia: smart and green but what now for drivers? https://t.co/wJktIQ0W3a

— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) December 19, 2016

[ozbob]

https://capmetro.org/pilot/

Capital Metro (Austin, Texas)

Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project



Capital Metro is leading the charge to be among the first transit agencies in the United States to showcase major technological advancements to our 'smart' city. We're committed to making it cleaner, faster, safer and easier to move around the city. Our transit app, launched in 2014, was one of the first in the country. And now, we're testing automated transit vehicle technology!

Beginning in late July 2018, the performance of six ADA accessible autonomous bus vehicles manufactured by two companies, Easy Mile and Navya, will be evaluated. We'll examine autonomous vehicle safety, and the efficiency and performance of battery technology. In addition, one of our contractors, RATP Dev, and the vehicle manufacturers will work with city officials to test signal components and on-street performance.

Autonomous Passenger Service Pilot

If testing goes well, a pilot passenger service is expected to launch in late fall 2018, picking up and dropping off customers, for a period of 12 months.

The circulator pilot service will operate along a 1.2-mile route on 3rd Street. Five to seven stops are slated to serve popular destinations like City Hall and the Central Library, and the service will also help Capital Metro customers make easy connections to other transit services at the downtown MetroRail station and Republic Square. Catching a ride on the autonomous vehicles will be free to customers during the pilot. Each autonomous bus has capacity for 15 passengers.

During this time, the overall customer experience, safety, and the public's reception and adoption of autonomous vehicles will be evaluated. Operators will be on board to help gauge vehicle performance and to act as customer service agents while buses are in service.

Autonomous Vehicle Project Partners

The autonomous vehicle testing and passenger pilot are a partnership with RATP Dev USA, the city of Austin and autonomous vehicle manufacturers Easy Mile and Navya. The pilot is being supported, and costs are offset, by RATP Dev USA.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/1125648959668609025

[red dragin]

My work car has the lane departure detection system (camera in top of windscreen).

It detects the white lines, and will pick up old faded lines, or even the glossy black sealant they use to fill in cracks in the bitumen, then gets cranky at me for driving outside the lines.

Thankfully it is just a warning flashing on the screen, and a gentle nudge on the steering wheel, so hasn't caused an accident.

[ozbob]

I have no doubt that autonomous vehicles will be able to track down a dedicated isolated class A ROW, with no interactions with the external environment other than in that isolated corridor and other AVs (eg. bus).  As far as AVs running around on the open roads, I seriously doubt if it will happen for a long long time yet, just far too many variables and complex interactions that are in no way predictable.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1140081197051068418

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Driverless car to be put to the test on Brisbane roads

A state-of-the-art driverless car will be put through its paces on Brisbane roads in the next few months in an Australia-first trial.

The purpose-built $1.5 million Renault ZOE2 was delivered from Europe recently, and will soon take part in on-road trials in Queensland's capital.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who was taken for a spin in the car himself on Tuesday, said the trial was a first in Australia.

"This is the first time an autonomous vehicle pilot has occurred to a speed of 50km/h in ordinary traffic conditions," Mr Bailey said.

"We want to be at the forefront because autonomous vehicles are a very exciting prospect for the future, and Queensland is very much part of bringing this technology to the Australian context and adapting them to our unique conditions."

Volunteers will take a ride in the car over the next few months and give feedback on the experience, while researchers will work to fine-tune the automation settings.

The car was built by French research consortium VEDECOM in collaboration with researchers and engineers from the Queensland University of Technology.

Professor Andry Rakotonirainy from QUT's road accident research group CARRS-Q said the vehicle was fully electric and had the second-highest level of automation possible.

"The level of automation ranges from zero, which is a normal car, to level five, which is a fully automated car which goes anywhere at any time in any conditions," Professor Rakotonirainy said.

"This car is level four, so if something bad happens it gives back control to the driver.

"The trial will ask people how well they trust the technology and how they interact with it, because this is a big issue for the future."

Assistant Commissioner Dale Pointon said Queensland Police were fully supportive of the trial, as up to 80 per cent of road crashes were caused by human error.

"I'm really looking forward to the day all the vehicles on our road are automated and I can do some other work apart from work on traffic violations," Mr Pointon said.

The on-road trial of the ZOE2 follows the cross-state trip performed by the similarly retrofitted ZOE1 earlier this year, which was designed to test how well the AI reacted to conditions on Australian roads.

Renault ZOE2 technical specifications:

Electric motor: 80kW
Range: About 300km in manual driving mode
Battery: 41kWh
Charge rate: From zero per cent to 95 per cent in 2hrs on 22kW, three-phase charger
Sensor arrays: Lidars, stereo camera, radar, GPS, IMU
Central display: Information screen 26cm LCD, Perception screen 17.5cm LCD
Kerb weight: 1500 kg (base without additional equipment)
Top speed: 50km/h (automated), 130km/h (manual)

The ZOE2 has already been put through its paces in controlled conditions at the Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre and has been granted a special permit to drive on public roads under the supervision of the research team.

It will make its "public" debut at QUT's Robotronica event at Gardens Point campus in Brisbane on Sunday.

Mr Bailey said they weren't expecting fleets of driverless cars on Queensland streets in the next few years, but they were laying the groundwork ahead of the time when science fiction became reality.

"There are billions of dollars going into research and trials right across the world; Queensland needs to know how this fits in with our roads and infrastructure," he said.

"This is coming - the time scale is unclear, but it is inevitable."

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/8/13/qld-launches-ozs-most-advanced-automated-vehicle

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Qld launches Oz's most advanced automated vehicle

The most advanced automated vehicle in Australia has been unveiled.

The Palaszczuk Government today launched its purpose-built $1.5 million Renault ZOE2, showcasing the highly automated vehicle in a suburban environment.

For six kilometres the ZOE2 navigated roundabouts, cross streets and driveways through Shailer Park in Brisbane's south.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the strong showing is proof Queensland wants to lead the way on automated vehicle technology.

"Not only do we want Queensland roads to be AV-ready, we want Queensland industry to be AV-ready too and to create the jobs of the future right here," Mr Bailey said.

The specially built car is packed with high-tech sensors, LIDAR, cameras, computers and software.

It will play a crucial role in the Palaszczuk Government's Cooperative and Highly Automated Driving program, which will travel around the state over coming years testing the state's AV-readiness.

The Queensland public will get its first taste of the see ZOE2 at QUT's Robotronica event, this Sunday at the Gardens Point campus.

Built by French research consortium VEDECOM, CEO Philippe Watteau said the research collaboration was looking forward to working together with Queensland researchers.

"We are pleased to have supplied ZOE2 to TMR/QUT and are looking forward to working together in the fast-developing field of sustainable, shared and autonomous mobility," Mr Watteau said.

"Our cooperation with Queensland researchers underpins our common goal of identifying innovative mobility solutions and reinforces France-Australia strategic cooperation in the field of innovation."

ZOE2 is supported by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre and QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q).

iMOVE Australia Managing Director Ian Christianson said the research work was a crucial step to helping the nation get the best outcomes from the introduction of highly automated vehicles.

"iMOVE is pleased to support this important work, which is helping to progress our understanding of the benefits and limitations of highly automated vehicles," Mr Christianson said.

CARRS-Q Director Professor Andry Rakotonirainy said the unique research vehicle, one of the most advanced of its type, was born from strong international collaboration and would enhance Australia's capacity to assess the safety of automated vehicles.

"This vehicle will facilitate multidisciplinary investigations into how road users accept, adopt and cooperate with new automated systems. This highly automated vehicle will assist in identifying and addressing policy, institutional, societal and regulatory challenges to ensure their safe integration into our transport system," Professor Rakotonirainy said.

For more information visit https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/projects/cavi/cavi-project
More about Renault ZOE 2:

The ZOE2 is classified is a level four automated vehicle. This means it is capable of self-driving in defined areas with the driver still able to take back manual control.

ZOE2 will be used by the Palaszczuk Government to explore the safety of automated vehicles and allow road users to experience the technology across a number of future events and demonstrations.

It will also assist the Department of Transport and Main Roads to ensure road infrastructure, legislation, regulation and licencing arrangements are ready for these vehicles.

ZOE2 has undergone local tests in the lead-up to the demonstration, including extensive off-road testing and analysis at the Mount Cotton Driver Training Centre.

The vehicle has been granted a permit to allow it to be tested on pre-defined roads, and under the supervision of qualified engineers.

Renault ZOE2 technical specifications:

Electric motor: 80kW
Range: About 300 km in manual driving mode
Battery: 41 kWh
Charge rate: From zero percent to 95 percent in 2hrs on 22kW, 3phase charger
Sensor arrays: Lidars, stereo camera, radar, GPS, IMU
Central display: Information screen 26cm LCD, Perception screen 17.5cm LCD
Kerb Weight 1,500 kg (base without additional equipment)
Top speed 50km/h (automated), Top speed 130 km/h (manual)

VEDECOM Institute partners include 40 members in automotive and aviation sectors, mobility ecosystem infrastructure and service operators, and academic research bodies.
ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Driverless buses to be trialled on Queensland's Karragarra Island

A DRIVERLESS bus is set to hit Queensland's roads later this year, as part of the state's first extensive on-road trial.

The smart shuttle will operate on Karragarra Island — the smallest of the southern Moreton Bay islands — from November as part of a six-month trial.

While the smart shuttles were tested in Ipswich's Orion Lagoon last year as part of a week-long demonstration, this is the first extensive on-road trial of the self-driving buses.

Head of public policy for RACQ Rebecca Michael said its self-driving bus was the "future of public transport" and would make life easier for residents of the island, who have previously never had access to public transport.

"Karragarra Island currently has no public transport at all, so this trial is expected to make life much easier for residents and visitors who previously had to rely on private vehicles," Dr Michael said.

As part of the trial, residents and tourists will be offered the chance to take a spin in the self-driving vehicles for free.

The shuttle will pick people up from the Karragarra ferry terminal and take them on a 3.5km loop.

Supplied by French company EasyMile, the shuttle can reach speeds of 20km/hr and uses detection lasers that can identify obstacles up to 40m away.

Dr Michael said it could help reduce accidents on the roads and address "transport disadvantage".

"Human behaviour is involved in up to 95 per cent of on road vehicle crashes," she said.

"So autonomous vehicles. could actually make some real improvements to road safety. They can also help address transport disadvantage.

"Queensland and Australia is a very decentralised, spaced out population and often we struggle to get public transport services into lower population areas."

Driverless buses have already been trialled in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

The Queensland trial is being jointly launched by RACQ, Redland City Council and the Council of Mayors South East Queensland.

Redlands Coast mayor Karen Williams was hopeful it would provide a solution to the region's transport woes.

"Redlands Coast has unique transport challenges that need innovative solutions," she said.

"It's exciting the first ever long-term trial of the technology in Queensland will be held on our

Southern Moreton Bay Islands, providing an important step towards addressing longstanding transport needs."

[ozbob]

Automated buses dodge peacocks, tourists and plants in Singapore testhttps://t.co/vQTnWzqZPf

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 27, 2019

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/NACTO/status/1173615034188083207

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1199084713610100736

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> What researchers learnt from a 1200km driverless car journey in Queensland

When it comes to self-driving cars, it appears even advanced artificial intelligence needs a map to show it where to go.

The results of a major Queensland University of Technology study that sent a self-driving car on a road trip across parts of Queensland have found that existing self-driving systems struggle badly on Australian roads.

The Cooperative and Highly Automated Driving pilot program, a partnership between the Queensland Department of Transport and the QUT, took an electric car fitted with multiple AI systems on a 1200-kilometre road trip over three months last year.

Professor Michael Milford, deputy director of QUT's Centre for Robotics, said after reviewing data from the test drive, it was clear that the use of AI for self-driving cars was not feasible on Australian roads without the use of high-definition maps.

Those maps, known as "prior maps", have detailed information about exact lane locations, traffic signs, and known driving hazards, such as roadworks.

"We found that we had to use prior maps and give those to the car to make its performance basically perfect," Professor Milford said.

"For a human, it would be like driving through a suburb you've driven through hundreds of times before – you know where everything is, and as you drive through, you're using your senses to confirm everything is where you think it should be."

The use of prior maps is the subject of much debate in the field of self-driving cars across the world, with some makers, including Elon Musk's Tesla, insisting they are not needed, but with most other players saying they are.

Professor Milford said the 20 terabytes of raw data gathered during their test drive showed conclusively that for Australian conditions, prior maps were definitely needed.

Without maps, the car's AI driver only detected vital information such as road markings, signs and pedestrian crossings about 40 per cent of the time, and that number dropped even further outside metropolitan areas.

With the maps, the accuracy rate increased to more than 97 per cent, although Professor Milford said there was still a long way to go before the technology could be trusted with human passengers.

"Maps have a fatal flaw, which is that if the environment changes – for example in an emergency or things like roadworks – and you're relying on a map that is now out of date, all sorts of bad stuff can happen," he said.

"So there are all sorts of questions that are still to be answered about how you update the maps, and how heavily government should be involved in that."

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the study's results were very valuable for the future planning of self-driving cars being used on the state's roads.

"This study was the first step in understanding infrastructure requirements of our vast and varied road network for new vehicle technologies," Mr Bailey said.

"The study results demonstrate that we need more research like this to ensure we have the right systems in place to meet the coming demand for different and emerging transport options."