Semi-Autonomous Bus makes successful trip in Amsterdam
On Monday, it was revealed that a Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous bus known as the Mercedes Benz Future Bus made its first successful trip. The bus, which is under the production of the Daimler Group, traveled 12 miles from an airport in Amsterdam to the town of Haarlem.
There was a driver monitoring the drive for safety purposes, but there was never a need for any participation on the part of the driver during the ride. The bus, which has a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour, was able to navigate the roads safely without any errors, thanks to a number of unique safety features.
Among the many features highlighted on the Mercedes Benz Future Bus, through its collective technology known as “CityPilot,” are its ability to read real world objects including traffic lights and signs. The bus can also tell when there is a pedestrian in its path so that it can pause to let them pass before moving. Another impressive functionality of the bus is its capability of collecting data on the conditions of roads to report back to the city through a central computer.
The interior of the bus is just as impressive as the outside, as its design allows for convenience and comfortable seating. Riders also have the ability to charge their devices wirelessly by placing them on a power-conducting surface beside their seats.
A video of a sample ride on the Mercedes Benz Future Bus is available on the Daimler Group’s website via this link.
