ComfortDelGro trials driverless shuttle around NUS

The NUSmart Shuttle is expected to commence the passenger service trial in Q3.

ComfortDelGro’s subsidiary, ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd, is testing a fully autonomous shuttle at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Kent Ridge campus as part of a year-long study aimed at gauging the commercial viability of such a service.

The 1.5-month-long road test, which will begin on 25 May, will see the NUSmart Shuttle going on a 1.6-km route between Heng Mui Keng Terrace and Business Link within the NUS campus at a speed of 5-16 km/hour. The key purpose of the road test is to “map” the route through the collection of data for the vehicle’s navigation systems.

Upon completion of the mapping process, the NUSmart Shuttle will run a validation test for three
hours daily over a four-week period. During this time, the shuttle will not be taking passengers.

Following the road test, the NUSmart Shuttle is expected to commence the passenger service trial in the third quarter of the year. The shuttles will have safety operators on board to provide information to passengers and ensure safe operation of the vehicle.

Besides the NUS trial, ComfortDelGro Group’s subsidiary SBS Transit is currently participating in two ongoing trials in Sentosa and Jurong Island.