arrived in March<\/span><\/a>, passed LTA\u2019s\u00a0closed-circuit test that included basic manoeuvres and an assessment of its\u00a0ability\u00a0to allow passengers to board and alight safely at all designated stops.<\/p>\nThe remaining five buses are undergoing preparations for the test, which also helps ensure that autonomous vehicles can navigate safely on roads, said LTA.<\/p>\n
Earlier, there were plans for the six autonomous buses to ply public bus routes in Marina Bay and Shenton Way, as well as one-north in Buona Vista.<\/p>\n
They were part of a trial to evaluate the feasibility of using autonomous vehicle technology for public bus services, and to get a better idea about operating autonomous buses at the service and fleet levels.<\/p>\n
The six self-driving 16-seater buses were meant to operate alongside existing manually driven buses for an initial three-year period.<\/p>\n
They were also meant to operate with bus captains on board as safety operators. They would be monitored in real time by LTA, which would also assess the self-driving performance and compliance with regulations of the buses.<\/p>\n
The two SBST routes were chosen because they are shorter and simpler.<\/p>\n