Yuen Long loop to host trial run of two driverless buses

Henry Siu

Two driverless light buses will start a trial run at Fairview Park in Yuen Long by the end of the month, the government said.

The trial run will last about seven months and allow residents to shuttle along a 2.5-kilometer loop in the housing estates.

The autonomous buses have similar specifications, though one has 12 seats while the other has eight plus a wheelchair-friendly seat.

Both feature artificial intelligence systems, with 15 radars and recognition cameras, self-built high-definition electronic maps and image processing technology that enable the AI to analyze road conditions and achieve precise positioning in real-time.

The 5G technology is also utilized to monitor the vehicle's condition in real-time through smart lampposts.

The Transport Department has reviewed various information submitted by the applicant, including relevant test reports of the same types of vehicles in the mainland.

"In Fairview Park, I think the road itself is very suitable for doing autonomous vehicle testing, because it is quite wide and it has a lot of speed bumps, so the average speed of cars on the road is quite slow," said Lawrence Cheung Chi-chong, chief executive of Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre.

Cheung said the center also made some adjustments to the system to make sure the vehicles drive safely when entering junctions.

"For a normal driver, it is easy. But for an autonomous vehicle, we need to do a lot of adjustments," he said.

Janet Lam Sze-mei, Transport Department's chief electrical and mechanical engineer (bus safety), said: "During the trial, we will limit the testing speed and testing routes as well as verify the qualifications of the backup operator. Such things are under the department's supervision.

"Under the new regulation, autonomous vehicles can be registered and licensed under the licensing system and regulated by current legislation. They can also have more comprehensive uses, such as the carriage of passengers for hire and reward."

Along with the Fairview Park project, eight autonomous vehicles are currently undergoing trials in the city. All of them have reached Level 4 of international standards, with Level 5 being the highest.

henry.siu@singtaonewscorp.com