Autonomous shuttles replace public buses: Moia's package based on VW ID. Buzz

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Moia presents its first series-produced autonomous mobility system with the VW ID. Buzz AD as a self-driving shuttle. Ideally, it promises to be a demand-driven solution for the increasingly patchy public transport system in rural areas, where a timed system is not worthwhile, and the labor costs are out of all economic proportion to the number of passengers – if enough bus drivers can be found at all. Moia's field of activity will remain urban areas in the long term.

Volkswagen's department for self-driving shuttle services is keen to point out that this is more than just a self-driving electric car that passengers can get into: Operators of autonomous mobility services are to be provided with a ready-to-use, market-ready overall solution consisting of vehicle, software, and services as well as support during set-up and operation, known as “operator enablement”.

The system is a matter for the boss

The mobility system also includes the software that networks the self-driving electric cars in the cloud for fleet management and customer-oriented booking systems. This should enable “cities, municipalities and fleet operators (…) to easily and reliably provide autonomous mobility for everyone”, says Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume. The software is called “Autonomous Driving Mobility as a Service (AD MaaS) Ecosystem Platform”, and gives hope that the journey will be less bumpy than this name suggests.

The stochastic route optimization for several vehicles with constantly changing order locations is mathematically highly complex and therefore relies on a combination of classic optimization and artificial intelligence. The system also enables customers to order journeys in the familiar booking apps on their smartphones. They can communicate via the telephone network and directly with the vehicle.

27 sensors for a safe journey

The VW ID. Buzz AD is equipped with the grab handles familiar from public transport, a luggage rack and seats. Space-saving sliding doors allow passengers to board the vehicle. The technology required for its autonomous locomotion comes from development partner Mobileye. With 27 sensors, including 13 cameras, nine LiDARs and five radars, the minibus should be able to generate “a comprehensive, redundant 360-degree image of its surroundings”.

To obtain approval for use in Germany, the VW ID. Buzz AD is homologated as an autonomous vehicle in accordance with automotive standards. The prerequisite is compliance with the SAE standard for automation level 4, as has been possible in Germany since June 2022. This includes remote monitoring and a controlled routine for exceptional situations, such as a rescue operation, writes Moia.

Driver's seat and steering wheel are still standard

“SAE Level 4” is the first stage after automated driving; according to the German road traffic authority, it can call itself “autonomous”. This means that a driver is no longer required in at least one “specific use case”. Moia describes the VW ID. Buzz AD as the “first fully autonomous series vehicle from Volkswagen”. The car can be steered wirelessly from the control center if necessary, and the driver's seat, steering wheel and pedals are still standard equipment.

So far, Moia's self-driving VW ID. Buzz are still on the road with staff in the driver's seat due to the narrowly defined scenarios. The new cars will initially go into operation at Moia's proven test site in Hamburg, where they will be tested under real conditions with an initial 25 vehicles. Further cities in Europe and the USA are planned for the coming year.

(fpi)