The Tallinn Transport Department and Auve Tech have launched an autonomous shuttle service in the Mustamäe district of Tallinn, Estonia.
Between 5 July and 14 September, passengers will be able to travel free of charge on a 1.8-kilometre autonomous shuttle route connecting Mustamäe tee, Tammsaare tee and Ehitajate tee in Tallinn.
The autonomous shuttle has eight seats and will run at 25-minute intervals from Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm.
Lauri Laats, Mustamäe District Elder said:I am very glad that the self-driving bus project will reach the streets of Mustamäe. Hopefully the pilot project will be a success and will bring us a self-driving bus for a longer period of time in the near future. Since Mustamäe is a compact district, the shuttle is able to cover the habitual routes of quite a large number of people on a short route.
The project is being conducted through a partnership between the Tallinn Transport Department and Auve Tech, an Estonian manufacturer of self driving vehicles. The pilot aims to explore how autonomous shuttles can enhance the region’s public transport network.
The autonomous shuttle will follow a pre-mapped route and is equipped with sensors that monitor the surroundings. If a pedestrian or any other obstacle moves in front of the vehicle, the bus will automatically brake. In addition, a human operator will always be on board to monitor safety.
