Autonomous on-demand buses: test drives in Ludwigslust get underway!

Autonomous on-demand buses: test drives in Ludwigslust get underway!

Something is happening in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, because the future of local transport is taking off. A converted Mercedes has been driving around Hagenow as an autonomous vehicle since Friday. This project, which was launched by a Berlin company, is part of the initiative of the Ludwigslust-Parchim transport company (VLP), which wants to introduce autonomous on-demand buses. This reports NDR.

The main aim of the test drives is to measure network coverage in the region. Optimal network coverage is essential to ensure the operational viability of autonomous vehicles. Stefan Lösel, Managing Director of VLP, is confident that the company is on schedule. Findings from the trips in and around Hagenow will be incorporated into a database, which will then be used to determine the first operating area for the autonomous on-call buses.

Future of transport: strengthening skills

The project is not only intended to revolutionize local mobility, but is also about the necessary technical infrastructure that must be created for autonomous vehicles. A special highlight of the project? The VLP is planning to establish a “competence center for autonomous driving in rural areas”. The VLP is thus taking the next step towards a smart transport future.

Where the journey takes also depends heavily on the technical development of the systems. This is exactly where a new algorithm that was developed at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) comes into play. How TUM reported, this algorithm takes into account 20 ethics recommendations from the EU Commission and makes differentiated decisions that include the risk of road users in calculated considerations. The aim of this software is to make the operation of autonomous vehicles safer.

A look into the future

For sustainable and safe implementation, automated systems must not only act precisely, but also be able to react appropriately in unpredictable situations. To this end, around 2,000 critical scenarios were tested, which were simulated in different regions and under a wide variety of conditions in Europe, the USA and China.

The research shows that technical implementation and ethical issues go hand in hand. Through the continuous development of these systems and testing in the region, Ludwigslust-Parchim could soon take on a pioneering role in the field of autonomous driving. The competence center will certainly make a valuable contribution to this.

The test drives in Hagenow are not only a step towards modern mobility, but also a sign that rural areas can lead more than just a “shadow existence” when it comes to technological innovations. Let's stay tuned to see how the project develops!