Tallinn launches self-driving passenger pod pilot

The Estonian capital Tallinn is launching a free, self-driving pod service capable of transporting eight passengers.

The shuttle will travel on a pre-mapped 1.8-kilometre circuit between 10am and 4pm from Tuesday to Sunday in the city’s western Mustamäe district

A collaboration between the Tallinn Transport Department and Auve Tech – an Estonian company developing self-driving vehicles – the trial will run until 14 September and aims to explore the possibilities of using self-driving shuttles across the city.

“I am very happy that the self-driving project will reach the streets of Mustamäe, and hopefully the testing will go so well that the near future will already bring us a self-driving [shuttle] for a longer period,” said Lauri Laats, Mustamäe City District Elder.

“The compactness of Mustamäe makes it possible to cover a very large number of city dwellers’ usual routes on a short route.”

The shuttle route will pass nearby apartment buildings, bus and trolleybus stops, and the Mustamae health centre. 

There is always a security person on the bus who will monitor the safety of each manoeuvre and intervene if necessary.

The vehicle will be equipped with sensors that monitor surrounding objects and their movements. If a pedestrian or any other obstacle gets in the way of the vehicle, it is programmed to brake automatically.

European trials

An increasing number of European cities are experimenting with or planning to trial driverless shuttle technology.

The Scottish city of Inverness is set to launch an autonomous shuttle trial later this summer which will transport students and staff from Inverness Campus to a nearby retail park at a speed of 15mph.

The Highlands & Islands transport partnership (Hitrans) secured EU funding of nearly £150,000 (US$181,000) to lease the French-designed Navya electric vehicle until spring, and is being supported by Stagecoach Highland to find out how driverless vehicles can be integrated into the region’s public transport system.

Turin, Italy will launch two driverless shuttles this week as part of a pilot covering a two-kilometre stretch of the city.

The vehicles, also designed by Navya, will be accessible to people with disabilities and can accommodate up to 14 passengers (11 seats and three standing), with a maximum speed of 25 kilometres per hour.

Image: auve-tech