At UITP RATP Dev presented on the future of automation and where mobility is heading in the future. RATP has began venturing into the world of automation with pilots of automated vehicles.
"We have been exploring that with our customers, we did a pilot in Austin for the SXSW festival. We're exploring universities with large campuses and parking lots where you could use smaller vehicles," said Blaine Rigler vice president of bus for RATP Dev America and president of McDonald Transit.
The 12-passenger, all-electric EZ10 piloted from March 16th and 17th. The electric vehicle ran on a pre-determined routes on a closed course for the media and the general public. The demonstration was a partnership between Capital Metro and RATP Dev (which operates as McDonald Transit for Capital Metro), in an effort to work to provide modern transportation while reducing emissions. UT Austin’s Center for Transportation Research (CTR) was selected to be a USDOT-approved Autonomous Vehicle Proving Ground. CTR researchers were there demonstrating the connected technologies, including object detection via camera and radar fusion; Light Detection and Ranging mapping (LIDAR); Dedicated Short Range Communications; and millimeter-wave data transfer.
"There was positive feedback from the pilot in Austin from radio stations, television and positive feedback from the community. There was lots of excitement and we're looking to explore more," said Rigler. "Right now it's about how do you move smaller groups of people to areas they couldn't get — the first mile, last mile and getting people to bus and rail stations."
The technology is still in the process of being tested.
Catherine Chardon CEO RATP said, "It is mandatory for the industry to check and test the technology. Honestly we will give service to the customers, but we need to check the reliability of the technology. We are in the process as a partner operator and the industry is trying these partnerships."
Chardon said that there were also two successful pilots in Paris, France.
"We are trying as a group to have a lot of demonstrations," Chardon explained that there are different situations in where such vehicles could be utilized. "Autonomous vehicles used for parking for buses is one. The driver leaves the bus and it goes on its own to park. We are testing that in Paris. These are related technologies."
Rigler and Chardon both said that RATP Dev is continuing to develop other technologies and stressed the theme 'SMART' sustainability; mobility; innovation; lifestyle; economy.
Chardon said that as they continue in innovation they are looking to managing RATP's network. "We just now partnered with Swifty, a big data company. Everybody now has a lot of data and we need someone who is focused on data to help us change how we serve our clients and how we operate. Innovating the way to present our network. The idea is to give more than that to the client."
