$3M grant to fund University of Alabama project for new automated bus system

A grant from the Federal Transit Administration and the United States Department of Transportation will help the University of Alabama develop automated driver assistance program.

The university is undertaking a $3 million project to develop the system for large transit buses, including the Crimson Ride bus.

Keep reading to learn more about the project + find out when the system could be used on campus.

Testing the automated system

The project is expected to bring automated safety features, currently in personal vehicles, to mass transit. It is being led by Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, executive director for the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies and chief mobility research and development officer for the Alabama Transportation Institute.

Virtual simulations with an interface to Perrone Robotics’ MAX software platform will be used then tested in the lab and then fitted into a Crimson Ride bus.

“We are thrilled to bring our TONY Kit to this groundbreaking project. This collaboration with the University of Alabama allows us to push the boundaries of what automated systems can achieve in next generation transit applications, ensuring safer and more reliable transportation for all.”

~ Paul Perrone, founder and CEO of Perrone Robotics

This project will develop and test four key functions in Crimson Ride buses:

• Smooth acceleration and deceleration for fuel economy
• Pedestrian detection and emergency braking to avoid collisions
• Precision docking
• Assisted driving in narrow roads

“If you’re talking about accident-free driving, you’re talking about fully automated driving.”

~ Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian

When will this system be active in mass transit?

It may take some time before the automated systems are used on buses for students. The project has to develop, validate and then test driver assistance technologies for a pedestrian-heavy environment.

Once the system performs well in the lab, the team will test the buses in controlled conditions on a road with mock pedestrians before adding them to campus routes.

The university did not say exactly when they expect to add the system to the Crimson Ride buses.

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