Cost factor stops test drives: Robo buses for Potsdam failed!

Cost factor stops test drives: Robo buses for Potsdam failed!

Potsdam, Deutschland - It should have been the next step into the future of local public transport: a project for autonomously driving electric minibuses between Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg, which should bring the Potsdam-Mittelmark and Western Pomerania region together. The start of the test phase until next year was planned, but now it is clear: The idea must be put for the time being. According to the Märkischen General newspaper the plans failed on the money.

What did specifically happen? The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport wanted to support the project with 2.3 million euros, but the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark returned the funding before the test drives had even started. The reason for this is obvious: the district could not agree on its own shares, and Vorpommern-Rügen could not guarantee its own contribution. The project was part of the three -year research project "Rural development with autonomous vehicles" (Leaf). Here Potsdam-Mittelmark was the only partner who ultimately held on to the advance while the Western Pomerania Rügen partners got out.

challenges on the street

Similar initiatives have not been easy in recent times. A robot bus was tested in Wusterhausen, but it also had difficulties - especially due to disruptive factors that complicated autonomous driving. This gave the project a few emergency stops when other drivers got in the way. According to Bernd Schäufele from TU Berlin, such experiences show that complex traffic situations are a major challenge for autonomous vehicles. Therefore, the traffic had to be reduced to 30 km/h in the tests.

One million euros were originally planned for Potsdam-Mittelmark and its traffic company RegioBus Potsdam-Mittelmark. But even without these financial resources, the municipalities find that the need for innovative traffic solutions in rural areas is high. Last but not least, the researchers reflect that it will take several years for autonomous vehicles to be ready for use for overland traffic, whereby the economy of the entire project depends on the need for a safety driver.

international perspectives

recently has published an international research project that examines the prerequisites for the use of self -driving minibuses in local public transport. The "Lea) project (small) bus, funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, looks at the status quo as well as technical, infrastructural and social aspects to improve flexibility and cost structure in local transport. The results were summarized in a white paper that serves as a guide for cities and counties. Internationale transportation writes that simulations illustrate how autonomously operated vehicles could create new opportunities in rural areas.

But what specifically brings us the future of autonomous driving? The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport has published a new manual entitled "Autonomous Driving in Public Transport", which is intended as a guide for the integration of autonomous vehicles. Messages from the Ministry show that the manual should highlight the opportunities and challenges and to support municipalities as well as mobility providers to develop their own strategy.

The challenges are considerable, and a lot depends on a robust legal and infrastructural framework. So let's be excited to see how the autonomous buses continue - because the idea stays on the agenda and could take a day away.