Karlsruhe study: Autonomous shuttles are revolutionizing local public transport!

Karlsruhe study: Autonomous shuttles are revolutionizing local public transport!

The RABus project is developing as a groundbreaking initiative to integrate autonomous shuttles into local public transport in Germany. How KIT reports, extensive research into the use of driverless shuttles has been carried out in recent months, especially in Mannheim and Friedrichshafen. The test results show a high level of acceptance and interest in autonomous shuttles among various population groups. The aim of the tests is to check the functionality in road traffic as well as user acceptance and to understand the effects on traffic.

Since October 2024, two autonomous shuttles have been in use in each test region. These vehicles covered over 2,100 kilometers in automated operation, even under difficult weather conditions and in heavy traffic. The use of shuttles at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour makes it possible to sustainably change people's everyday lives.

Progress in Mannheim and Friedrichshafen

As part of the project, the next phase is now being planned in Stuttgart, as Transport Minister Winfried Hermann announced. The project name RABus stands for “real-world laboratory for automated bus operations in urban and rural public transport”. A particularly innovative element is the autonomous shuttle bus, which is to be used in the new FRANKLIN district in Mannheim. This district, which currently has around 4,000 residents, follows a climate-friendly mobility concept. The shuttle bus will serve a two-kilometer route between the Platz der Friendship stop and ten other stops along its route.

The first highly automated buses are scheduled to go into operation with human supervisors as early as summer 2022. Preparations are currently underway in FRANKLIN, including the installation of magnetic sensors, temporary stops and turning points. The first mayor of Mannheim, Christian Specht, commented on the importance of this technology and emphasized its role in future mobility. Martin in der Beek, technical managing director of Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH, points to the company's innovative strength and emphasizes the clear objective of improving public transport.

Autonomous driving as a future model

The plans to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transport are not just the responsibility of locally operating companies. The federal government has developed an overarching strategy for autonomous driving in road traffic in Germany in order to position the country as a leading innovation and production location in this area. That confirms BMVI with the point out that Germany was the first country to create a comprehensive legal framework for autonomous driving. The focus here is not only on road traffic, but also on promoting new, autonomous mobility offerings in local public transport.

Research into autonomous driving opens up a variety of possibilities. It could not only increase road safety, but also help to improve connections to rural and remote areas. At the same time, this strategy addresses challenges such as the shortage of professional drivers and could strengthen the competitiveness of the German automotive industry. Automated shuttles therefore represent an important opportunity to redesign local public transport and thereby meet various social needs.