An autonomous vehicle will now transport people from the main entrance of Expo 2020 Dubai to the staff offices, as part of a trial run by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The trial run is in line with the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 per cent of journeys in Dubai driverless by 2020, thus contributing to sustainable transport solutions for the future.

Taking about the strategy and the trial run, Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA, said: “The Self-Driving Transport Strategy is part of initiatives aimed at supporting the green economy drive. Trialling an autonomous vehicle at the site of the Expo is an achievement and addition to our efforts to introduce autonomous vehicles at Dubai’s various hotspots.”

Bahrozyan added that the trial run would last for three months and will include testing of autonomous technologies, safety passenger and overall surroundings. “It illustrates the RTA’s keenness to adopt highly efficient, safe and reliable technologies in delivering smart services,” he said.

Mohamed Al Ansaari, Vice-President-Communications, Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomed the move and said that they were proud to have become the test site for the autonomous vehicle, which contributes to the objective of achieving the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy. “This strategy is compatible with our sustainability vision to enhance the use of environmentally-friendly vehicles with low-carbon emissions,” he added.

Image Credit: WAM.AE

Green Tech
The vehicle uses green technologies and is powered by electricity to operate up to 16 hours. It accommodates 15 riders (10 seated, five standing) and travels at a speed of 25 km/h. The vehicle is designed to travel in closed and internal public roads within the entertainment and residential communities. It features high safety and security standards to monitor the path using advanced sensors and high accuracy positioning systems. It can monitor any obstructing object and will automatically slow down when an object emerges. The vehicle will come to a complete stop when an object comes close to it.