San Francisco has launched an unmanned bus service that takes passengers around Treasure Island for free
Amid a scandalous decision to expand robotaxi operations, San Francisco has launched a route with an unmanned bus.
Here's What We Know
The free bus runs daily on a fixed Loop route around Treasure Island. The shuttle makes seven stops, connecting residential neighbourhoods with shops and community centres.
About 2,000 people live on the island.
The shuttle is operating under a grant-funded pilot programme. San Francisco County officials want to evaluate how autonomous vehicles can complement the public transport system.
Here's How It Works
In an all-electric vehicle, there is no driver's seat or steering wheel. However, there is a safety operator on the route who can operate the bus with a handheld controller if needed.
The shuttle can accommodate up to ten passengers. It will run from 9am to 6pm local time every day and will bypass the Loop every 20 minutes.
There are two shuttles operating on the route. While one is dispersing passengers, the other is charging.
The shuttles are operated by Beep, an Orlando, Florida-based company that has implemented similar pilot programmes in more than a dozen communities in the US. Robomobiles are designed for short routes and will not replace the classic bus system, the company says.
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Source: TechXplore
