Driverless bus wows Queenstown
Is this the future of transport in Queenstown?
An electric driverless minibus is transporting passengers about 70 metres along Beach Street this afternoon, from outside Absoloot Hostel QT, before turning around and coming back.
The autonomous vehicle has been brought to town by Ohmio Automotion Ltd.
The Auckland-based company is sponsoring New Zealand's first forum on Driverless Passenger Transport hosted by ITSNZ in Queenstown today and tomorrow.
The forum features some 30 experts exchanging knowledge on the role of autonomous transport solutions in solving 'Public Transport’s First and Last Mile Challenge'.
Ohmio’s vehicles have already been deployed in New Zealand, Australia, China, South Korea, and Luxembourg.
They are designed at present to be used in airports, ports or commercial parks, hospitals, rest homes and retirement villages, schools, universities and education campuses, and recreation areas and amusement parks.
The company says they offer transport with: "No fumes. No noise. Reduced Congestion. Improved accessiblity."
"Ohmio autonomous vehicles can connect with other vehicles, infrastructure and traffic management systems, providing unparalleled access to data.
"This enables Ohmio’s intelligent management system to eliminate human error, safely negotiating and avoiding obstacles, ensuring riders, pedestrians and other road users are safe."
