A photo from open sources
The Netherlands became the first state in history, through the streets which began to run public transport that does not need the driver. Environmentally friendly minibus “WePod” is capable of transport six people at a time and reach speeds of up to eight kilometers per hour. Currently, such a car drives two-kilometer stretch of road in the Dutch town Wageningen.
Soon, an extensive robotic fleet of several hundred unmanned electric buses.
The authors of the project claim that all over the world on the roads already several years you can meet automatic cars, but no one did not dare to make a self-governing machine public by transport. “WePod” is reported to work completely autonomously and does not require the intervention of a live operator. By bus already used by more than four hundred people, and each of the passengers I was extremely pleased with the trip.
A photo from open sources
“WePod” slows down near the stops set by the program and opens your door. The bus can go six citizens who pay drive by credit cards and sit opposite each other. The car checks that everyone is sitting in their places, while in the cabin there were hares and standing passengers, after which the door closes, and the bus goes on, maneuvering between other road users movement.
Such an innovation is certainly an important step on the way. establishment of safe autonomous transport in the world. According to many experts, humanity is rapidly moving towards make all the transport on the planet – both passenger and freight – self-governing. Our descendants will probably no longer be drive cars – it will be enough for them to sit in the salon and indicate the place destination, after which the car itself will take them to where necessary.
The Netherlands, it seems, do not like to waste time. Project “WePod” started here last June, and the first automatic a minibus appeared on the streets after eight months. The cost of each car is three million euros. Once will pass tests, the maximum speed of the bus will be increased from eight to twenty-five kilometers per hour.
Netherlands time
