By MOOK Scenic Spots’ Chen Wenlin, compiled and reported
Taipei’s driverless vehicles can now be spotted on Taipei streets too！ Starting August 1, the Taipei City Government conducted a five-day experimental test of autonomous buses from 1:00 to 4:00 AM on the bus-only lane along Xinyi Road. Initially, no passengers will be allowed onboard, but a live online stream will be provided for public participation. If there are no major issues, they will consider putting the driverless buses into regular service. This could not only serve as transportation during off-peak hours but also help resolve manpower issues under the “one fixed day off, one flexible rest day” work policy.
A self-driving minibus conducts a late-night trial run on Taipei streets (Photo / Taipei City Government Information Bureau)
The driverless bus is designed to carry up to 12 passengers, with a top speed of approximately 40 km/h. It is equipped with GPS, radar, and an onboard computer, allowing it to follow preset routes autonomously. It can also detect obstacles and pedestrians on its own, adjust its path accordingly, follow right-of-way rules for vehicles on the right or left, and automatically brake in emergencies.
A self-driving minibus hits the road with smart tech design and engineering (Photo / Taipei City Land Administration Bureau)
Driverless buses have been in use abroad for years, for example in Singapore, Australia, Lyon in France, and Switzerland, often operating on fixed routes in industrial zones, airports, theme parks, university campuses, and hospitals. Currently, Taipei’s autonomous minibuses are undergoing closed-track testing on the two-way bus-only lane of Xinyi Road. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je joked that if residents spot a bus without a driver late at night, they shouldn’t panic or get scared.
Taipei’s special-themed train is here—The Universiade painted train looks incredibly lifelike
》http://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=15773