Optimize the Placement of Key Components in Fully Automated Shuttles for Enhanced Safety Performance.
Study Summarized Best Practices for Deploying Fully Automated Shuttles Based on 120 Deployments Since 2016, From a Total of 21 Countries Worldwide.
Worldwide
Autonomous Shuttle Implementation and Best Practices
Summary Information
Fully automated shuttles, with their compact size and predetermined routes, offer an advanced solution for short-distance travel in both urban and rural settings. Understanding their impact and users’ acceptance is essential for addressing transportation demands and shaping the trajectory of transit-oriented mobility in the future. This study summarized best practices for deploying fully automated shuttles from safety, operational, economic, and policy perspectives, based on the analysis of data related to 120 existing deployments since 2016, from a total of 21 countries worldwide, collected from multiple sources such as research papers, newspapers, technical reports, and magazines. Two surveys were conducted as part of this study. The first survey, launched in April 2023 with 40 responses from experts, used a statistical method to identify key factors affecting perceptions of automated shuttles, including underutilization, safety, seating arrangement, reliability, data security, and operations. The second survey, with 126 user responses, applied a statistical model to show that safety, comfort, and trust, alongside demographics, transportation habits, and familiarity with fully automated shuttles influence willingness to use automated shuttles.
- Prioritize improving transit parking facilities and road signage before launching pilot projects to streamline fully automated shuttle operations. It was suggested by this study that, prior to pilot projects, efforts should focus on enhancing transit parking facilities and road signage to help with the smooth operation of fully automated shuttles by allowing an easy-to-navigate area as well as promote safety and ease of use for all road users.
- Optimize the placement of key components for enhanced safety performance in fully automated shuttles. For example, this study indicated that refining the placement of LiDAR sensors could enhance blind spot detection, thus increasing the overall safety performance of fully automated shuttles.
- Emphasize data safety for the functional operation of fully automated shuttles and for maintaining users’ trust. Improving measures to protect and secure data can substantially reduce concerns regarding potential cyber threats.
- Allow a sufficiently long pilot deployment trial period to monitor and address unforeseen challenges and operational issues. This study recommended that an extended six to 12 months was essential as the trial period.
- Consider improving the level of autonomy of full automated shuttles. Especially important features would be lane changing and the navigation of steep curves, to increase efficiency and safety.
