The WEpod will be the first self-driving electric shuttle for use on public roads. The first autonomous pods have already been delivered to the Netherlands and they will start operating this November.
Passengers will be able to take the shuttle to the towns of Wageningen and Ede in the center of the Netherlands.
During its test phase, the WEPod will not be used in challenging conditions, such as rush hour traffic, poor weather or at night.
Driverless vehicles operate in other parts of the world, such as the ParkShuttle bus in Rotterdam and the Heathrow Pod in London. However, they run on special single trajectory lanes or in pedestrian areas. The WEpod is the first driverless shuttle to drive on regular roads in public traffic.
The WEpod can carry six people at the “breakneck” speed of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) per hour.
The vehicle won’t have a driver, but a remote control room will monitor its functioning and the safety of the passengers. There is even a backup plan: a joystick will be installed inside and if the WEPod’s self-driving abilities don’t work properly, it could be used to take control.
According to Joris Ijsselmuiden, a researcher at Wageningen University which is testing the pods, the WEpod will be equipped with multiple cameras to map landmarks and navigate around obstacles that are not picked up by the GPS of the vehicle. The pod will also be equipped with a radar and a laser.
Passengers can book the WEPod using an app which will allow passengers to reserve a seat and select their starting point and destination. WEPods are expected to select their itineraries independently.
See a video here.
