LTA, NTU to test self-driving buses in Singapore

Two 12m electric hybrid buses will ply roads in NTU.

After the trials of self-driving taxis, Singapore's Land Transportation Authority (LTA) is gunning to develop autonomous bus technologies, tapping the minds in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in conducting self-driving bus trials.

LTA inked a partnership with Energy Research Institute (ERI) of NTU to facilitate the roll-out of the trial.

Under the collaboration, ERI will test and develop their self-driving vehicle technology with two 12-metre electric hybrid buses.

The buses will be installed with a suite of intelligent sensors and autonomous system that can effectively navigate Singapore's local road traffic and climate conditions.

The driverless buses will also feature charging technology that will enable them to pump up energy when they stop at a bus depot or bus stops.

During the trials, the two will ply the roads between NTU and CleanTech Park, which is situated within Jurong Innovation District.

The two institutions look forward to extending the trials in the future to ferry commuters from NTU and CleanTech Park to Pioneer MRT station.

NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research Lam Khin Yong stressed that this trial will contribute to the ongoing study on developing new solutions for public transportation.

"Current efforts worldwide have been focused on cars so this autonomous bus trial is the first-of-its-kind in Singapore that will aim to improve road safety, reduce vehicle congestion, alleviate pollution and address manpower challenges," Lam noted.