AsianScientist (Sep. 3, 2014) – Imagine a future where shared driverless cars bring you to where you want to go before picking up another person, and restore mobility for the blind and handicapped. Singapore’s Agency For Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) have partnered up to bring us closer to this future.
The partnership, known as the Singapore Autonomous Vehicle Initiative, will provide a technology platform for the agencies to examine the opportunities and challenges that Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technologies face in Singapore.
Currently, there are several developing AV projects in Singapore. For example, the National University of Singapore, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is testing a fleet of autonomous golf buggies as a car-sharing concept. Meanwhile, a driverless shuttle that can seat up to ten people is under testing at the Nanyang Technological University.
Under the five year agreement signed between A*STAR and LTA, A*STAR is expected leverage on its expertise in infocomm and autonomous systems to develop AV technologies. Meanwhile, LTA will play a regulatory role in aligning these technologies research towards the eventual goal of implementation within Singapore’s transport network.
Together, A*STAR and LTA plan to explore research in automated vehicles, autonomous mobility systems and automated road systems. For example, the feasibility of inserting automated vehicles into Singapore’s mass transport service system will be studied.
Another area of exploration will be a new mobility system for intra-town travel in future residential developments. This would use a network of customized and demand-responsive shared vehicles, and could potentially serve as a convenient first mile/last mile transport mode within a residential town, leading to decreased reliance on cars.
“We recognize the enormous potential that AV technology has to offer towards improving Singapore’s land transport system. Through this research collaboration with A*STAR, we are able to create a technology platform for different stakeholders—such as regulators, researchers and industry players—to come together, collaborate, test and, ultimately, develop solutions to overcome the challenges and exploit the opportunities in the adoption of AV technology,” said Mr. Chew Hock Yong, Chief Executive of LTA.
Dr. Raj. Thampuran, Managing Director of A*STAR said, “Technology has the power to make our transport system safer and more efficient. Together with LTA, A*STAR will bring innovative technologies to the future of transport in Singapore. We will start with AV systems which hopefully would expand to other areas in intelligent transportation engineering.”
To support the development of this technology, LTA will work towards a framework that will allow the testing of automated vehicles that meet safety standards to be tested on our public road network over the next year. Singapore’s one-north campus, consisting of Biopolis, Fusionopolis and Mediapolis, has been identified as the first public road network in Singapore for the testing of driverless vehicles. This will take effect from 1 January 2015.
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Copyright: A*STAR; Photo: Ian Sane/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
