As cities seek innovative solutions to improve mobility, Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) has emerged as a compelling option for its swift deployment, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability. Its evolution showcases how new technology can reshape urban transportation by solving challenges such as budget constraints and driver shortages. In this post, we explore the practical aspects of deploying ART systems and the benefits of a comprehensive turnkey solution.
The Journey of ART: From Vision to Reality
In 2018, Taiwan launched a proof-of-service ART program that used a 9-meter retrofitted self-driving bus operating on a virtual track, aiming to explore the potential to increase accessibility and service quality of public transportation. Fast forward to today, ART has demonstrated its capabilities through real-world deployments, offering predictable, safe, reliable, and efficient autonomous transportation (see our 2020 blog post: Autonomous Rapid Transit: The Practical Path to Autonomous Driving).
ART operates in various environments, including fixed routes, semi-fixed routes, segregated from ground traffic or intersecting with it. The system’s use of self-driving vehicles on virtual tracks reduces the need for physical infrastructure and manpower, which allows for quicker deployment and a lower total cost of ownership, making it an ideal mode for public transportation when compared to traditional options.
Key Considerations for Deployment
Deploying ART requires a collaborative and strategic approach. LILEE Systems has been at the forefront by leveraging its advanced self-driving technologies with extensive rail industry experience to support municipalities, airports, hospitals, and campuses in navigating the complexities of deploying ART. Below are key steps to consider:
- Feasibility Studies: Consulting firms assess existing infrastructure, develop operational and maintenance roadmaps, establish acceptance criteria, and ensure compliance with transportation regulations.
- Requirements and Specifications: Consulting firms create detailed specifications for vehicles, automated driving systems, communication systems, roadside equipment, control center setup, and maintenance facilities.
- Collaboration: Success relies on collaboration among stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, equipment suppliers, vehicle traffic management system providers, and system integrators. Vehicle traffic management system providers play a particularly critical role in this process.
- System Demonstrations: Extensive testing under simulated conditions to gather performance data to address challenges before full-scale implementation. A supervision unit oversees progress, ensuring specifications are met, and the system also undergoes third-party verification testing to meet acceptance criteria.
- Operation and Maintenance: Pre-operation preparations include developing strategic and procedural documents for manpower, policies, regulations, and safety measures. The procedures should be reviewed and updated every 6-12 months to ensure adherence to KPIs for safety, reliability, and service quality.
Turnkey Solution
Transportation providers are increasingly recognizing the value of a turnkey solution for deploying autonomous transit. We have also supported the shift from traditional vehicle purchasing models to fully integrated ART services.
By combining the ART’s advantages with the validated safety and reliability of rail systems—an area in which LILEE has extensive experience—we have transformed early concepts into a field-proven, turnkey solution called SafeART™, delivering key benefits such as:
- Enhanced Safety: SafeART™ integrates a fail-safe Vehicle Traffic Management (VTM) system that connects self-driving vehicles with roadside infrastructure and an operations control center, leading to rail-grade safety.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Virtual track technology reduces deployment times and removes the need for expansive physical infrastructure. Remote monitoring and management also reduce operation costs by enabling the operations control center to oversee multiple self-driving vehicles simultaneously.
- Certifiability: Integration of rail-grade safety systems allows the ART system to undergo third-party verification through a formal Type Approval process, assuring that the system meets safety, technical, and operational standards.
A Practical Path Forward
With its innovative virtual track technology, proven safety measures, and unparalleled adaptability, ART provides solutions to challenges such as rising costs and labor shortages faced by transportation providers today. Drawing on real-world use cases, LILEE Systems has refined ART into a safe, reliable, and certifiable solution and is committed to equipping partners with the tools and knowledge for successful deployment.
Considering integrating ART into your transportation systems? Contact us today to discuss how we can support your project. Let’s work together to shape the future of public transportation!
