The NSW Government has joined forces with HMI Technologies, NRMA, Telstra, IAG and Sydney Olympic Park Authority to launch the first trial of a driverless shuttle bus in NSW.
Once the first stage of tests and safety checks are completed in a secure, off-road environment, the trial will extend to public use at Sydney Olympic Park.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the ultimate goal of the trial was to find the best way to harness the next generation of driverless technology.
“Today we drive our cars but the reality is, cars will soon drive us and while we are not there yet, we need to be prepared for this change and we need to stay ahead of the game,” Mr Constance said.
Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey said the trial was about connectivity, as well as automated vehicles.
“We want to use the trial to help develop the systems that will enable automated vehicles to be connected to our infrastructure, like traffic lights, and to our customers through their devices and applications,” Mrs Pavey said.
“It’s the combination of connectivity and automation that will provide the safety and mobility benefits we are looking for.”
The government established the Smart Innovation Centre to work with the industry to develop trials like this and explore smarter solutions for future transport plans.
