Image credit – NTU, LTA
One of the things that is enviable about Singapore would be its size. Some might complain that it is too small and too crowded, but at the same time a smaller country means that implementing modern features will not take long to encompass the entire island. The country been trialing out all kinds of autonomous services like driverless pods and self-driving taxis.
Now it seems that the country is looking to move onto other public transport systems: buses. Two of these autonomous buses will be tested out and they will ferry up to 80 passengers between the Nanyang Technological University and the “eco-business” hub CleanTech Park, and there are also considerations to possibly service a nearby train station.
Given how expensive cars are to own in the country, public transport is one of the main ways residents in Singapore get around. The country’s public transport system is already relatively efficient, so having autonomous buses drive passengers around would no doubt add to that efficiency.
Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, NTU’s vice president of research Professor Lam Khin Yong said, “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.”
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