Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a software and systems integration developer, has launched an automated shuttle service at its Texas campus.
The vehicle can reportedly hold up to 14 passengers and uses algorithms, sensors, cameras and SwRI-developed software.
“It is rewarding for our engineers to take the very best technology that SwRI has developed to serve our clients and then embed it into a showcase vehicle that has a practical purpose in our backyard,” said Ryan Lamm, director of the applied sensing department at SwRI.
According to SwRI, the service uses a system named Ranger, which includes an in-built map of campus, a ground-facing camera and automation software to keep the shuttle close within a designated route. A human driver will also be onboard as a safety measure.
The shuttle is a low-speed vehicle (LSV) and moves at less than 50mph (80.4km/h), which the developers suggest makes it well-suited for closed campuses or roads with reduced speed limits.
The system was designed to use AI to identify road signs, pedestrians, vehicles and other obstacles.
SwRI also claims that the shuttle can integrate and share data with other smart transport systems and autonomous vehicles. The technology was debuted at an event on August 3.
The shuttle is part of an ongoing research project and data collected from the vehicle will be used to continuously update and innovate the service.
