Challenges and prospects for unmanned urban transport

Abstract

The article deals with current problems and prospects of development of urban unmanned transport. The rapid development of autonomous transport, artificial intelligence, and other information technologies makes it possible to introduce unmanned vehicles in urban public transport systems, primarily buses. The technological factors and obstacles for the development of unmanned public transport systems are summarised. Despite the fact that the capacity of such buses in current use is still small, a maximum of about 15 people, the routes are relatively short, and the use is mainly in test mode, the use of these vehicles, especially in large urban agglomerations, seems undoubtedly promising. The article presents an analysis of the main features and incentives for the development of unmanned public transport, gives a brief overview of pilot systems of autonomous public transport in European cities, considers obstacles to the development of these systems and the experience of development of unmanned public transport in Russia, and formulates assumptions about the future development of this transport segment. The first steps towards full autonomy and widespread use of unmanned urban public transport, however, this path will not be taken quickly.