ST Engineering, an established developer in the autonomous bus segment has raised its autonomous vehicles (AV) capabilities another notch with the rollout of new AV platforms.
The group’s STROBO portfolio brand of autonomous bus platforms was unveiled at the ITS World Congress 2019 in Singapore. Designed to meet urban traffic requirements and weather conditions, the STROBO Bus will offer customers more choices based on their operational requirements.
The STROBO Series 12 bus is currently undergoing trials on an extended route between Sakra Region and Jurong Island Checkpoint until early 2020. Two of these buses will then undergo further operational trials that will demonstrate their ability to provide selected feeder and trunk bus services in Singapore. The project is the result of collaborative efforts by the Singapore Autonomous Vehicle Research Consortium, which ST Engineering is part of, along with the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design. The STROBO Series 7 bus, which is the offshoot of a partnership with BYD, a leading Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles, will be fitted with the ST Engineering AV kit.
This build-up of ST Engineering’s autonomous system capabilities involves leveraging our core expertise in vehicle platforms and system integration, as well as integrating evolving new technologies in related areas like artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity.
These efforts are part of the Group’s larger vision to be a leading contributor of the AV ecosystem in Singapore, working to effectively deploy autonomous, commuter-friendly, mass transport modes for intra-town and first-last mile commutes under the nation’s Land Transport Master Plan.
Looking overseas
Even as it ramps up deployment in Singapore, ST Engineering is also looking to bring its expertise and capabilities to other cities seeking sustainable and scalable AV solutions. The group is currently working to introduce an AV shuttle in Israel. The vehicle will undergo platform testing and certification in preparation for operational deployment. The group is also exploring the sales of autonomous vehicles to Japan, in partnership with Japanese bus operator, Willers.
Adopting a system approach, the Group has also formed a consortium of industry leaders to explore the commercialisation and export its autonomous transport solutions. The partners include OEMs, operators and technology companies including Siemens, SBS Transit, Willers, SafeRide and RideOS.
ST Engineering has been conducting trials for autonomous shuttle and bus services in Singapore since 2016. Together with the Ministry of Transport and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), it launched the city-state’s first on-demand autonomous shuttle public trial on Sentosa Island on 26 August 2019. In the past two months, the shuttle service has served more than 2,000 passengers with more than 90% giving at least 4 out of a 5-star satisfaction rating.
Back in 2015, ST Engineering launched Asia’s first commercial operational AV at Gardens by The Bay with the Auto Rider. In 2017, it formed the Singapore Autonomous Vehicles Consortium to foster closer collaboration between industry partners and institutes of higher learning to develop AV standards as well as accelerate the AV adoption in Singapore.
