Metro Magazine, September 2020

14 buses themselves it makes the CTfastrak a nice safe environment to introduce and test this type of equipment Solensky explains We would like CTfastrak to become the premier testing ground for this type of equipment as well as other technologies in the U S because it is essentially a controlled environment THE PROJECT The pilot program consists of several partners including CTDOT New Flyer and Robotic Research Inc which is supplying configuring and supporting the automated driving systems that will be integrated into the New Flyer buses Also on board are the Center for Transportation and Environment CTE who is acting as the project manager and technical consultant for the program as well as the University of Connecticut and the Capital Region Council of Governments From the manufacturer supplying the buses to our folks who are managing the project and collecting data and the internal team we have here who are set to ensure the safety of the vehicles we have assembled a tremendous team for this project Its this team that is allowing us to move forward confidently says Solensky The project began in earnest a few years ago Solensky explains just as he was coming on board at CTDOT We started interviewing all the bus manufacturers to gauge their interest in developing automated technology We also brought those folks in for tours as well as folks who did autonomous pilot projects in the past and reached out to everyone we could at conferences and by telephone says Solensky Eventually we submitted a grant proposal in partnership with New Flyer who had in turn developed a partnership with Robotic Research The pilot program is focused on successful demonstration of the use of automated technology on buses on public roads the collection of relevant data to guide future policymaking and the advancement of Advanced Driving Assist System ADAS technology for enhanced safety The buses will demonstrate Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J3016 Level 4 technology To this point many of the autonomous pilots that have taken place in transit have focused on shuttles all settled on private property in many instances explains David Warren director sustainable transportation at New Flyer What were doing with this project is ambitious because we are demonstrating SAE Level 4 automation on a heavy duty transit bus which has hardly been demonstrated in passenger vehicles let alone a heavy duty bus Solensky adds that the automated buses will operate with an on board safety attendant at the operators controls to ensure passenger safety during the pilot program The fact that there will be a driver onboard that is able to take over at all times is a key piece of information that we want to communicate to the public Solensky says The bus will function autonomously at times but there will be a driver there in case any interventions need to be made New Flyer will integrate the Robotic Research LLCs proprietary AutoDrive auMETRO MAGAZINE COM SEPTEMBER 2020 TECHNOLOGY AUTONOMOUS BUSES The guideway was built on current and former railroad rights of way owned by the State of Connecticut and Amtrak allowing for the minimal taking of private land The automated buses will operate through a technology called Lidar which measures distances and determines through wavelengths of light what the digital representation of the object that is sensed