A driverless electric shuttle will start transporting members of the public around the Tonsley Innovation District this week as part of a five-year trial of autonomous vehicle technology set to encompass public roads in South Australia for the first time.
Funded by the State Government and industry partners, the Flinders Express (or ‘FLEX’) will initially provide ‘first mile–last mile’ shuttle services between the nearby Clovelly Park Train Station and Tonsley’s Main Assembly Building (MAB), then connections to bus stops on the main South Road and businesses within the Tonsley precinct.
Within a year the shuttle will run to the Flinders Medical Centre and the University’s Bedford Park campus before using main arterial roads around the entire Bedford Park precinct.
Flinders University Head of Civil Engineering Professor Rocco Zito says commuters arriving by traditional bus or train can to Tonsley can book a ride online at the Flinders website.
“Demonstrations and trials of these driverless vehicles that involve the community are a really good way of building acceptance of this type of new technology,” Professor Zito says.
“Our aim is not to prove the technology but rather expose the public to this new type of transport service and learn from their responses and reactions to help driverless vehicles gain general acceptance.”
The three-stage, $4 million driverless shuttle project – for which Flinders University, the RAA and Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) have partnered with industry supporters Cohda Wireless, Renewal SA, SAGE Automation, Telstra, UPG, ZenEnergy and public transport operator Keolis Downer – last year received $1 million from the State Government’s $10 million Future Mobility Lab Fund.
The French-designed Navya Arma electric shuttle can carry up to 15 passengers at speeds of up to 40 km per hour, but will travel up to 30 km per hour during the trial. FLEX will be managed by an on- board chaperone informing users of the technology and ensuring safety.