The first passengers in Langen and Egelsbach experience autonomous driving!

The first passengers in Langen and Egelsbach experience autonomous driving!

From this week, passengers in Langen and Egelsbach, in the Offenbach district, can use the innovative system autonomously driving cars. The pilot project, which is called "Kira", is carried out by the Deutsche Bahn and the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV). It marks a milestone in the history of public transport (public transport) in Germany, as it is the first time that passengers can ride nationwide in self -driving cars, such as ZVW.de reported.

The passengers order their journey conveniently via an app and are brought to their destination within a defined area. During the test phase there is always a security driver on board who can intervene in an emergency. The vehicles that drive with the "Level 4" automation level are completely autonomous and are monitored by a control center. The Federal Ministry of Transport promotes the project with around 2.2 million euros, with the RMV also making a financial contribution.

vehicle technology and security

The project is characterized by a high degree of automation. The permission for testing the Level 4 autonomy driving was granted by the Federal Motor Transport Authority. This level means that all driving maneuvers are controlled by the vehicle itself, but a security driver must be present to take control if this should be necessary. This technology enables safe participation in regular road traffic, and during the first trips, the self -driving system from Mobileye is checked, including checking the map material of the operating area, according to A total of two autonomous vehicles are initially used in Langen and Egelsbach, with a further six shuttles that are to gradually go into operation in the cities of Darmstadt and Offenbach. From the second half of the year, Darmstadt is also to be integrated into the project, which will spread further the use of autonomous on-demand offers. Interested citizens can apply later to book later to book the shuttles through the app as a test user.

The Kira project could initiate a new era for local public transport, especially in rural areas where on-demand driving services are to be made more attractive. Autonomous transport systems could help to make public transport more flexible and thus reduce the need for private vehicles, which could increase the quality of life in urban and rural regions. The environmentally friendly solutions are part of a more comprehensive trend that aims to redesign the space in cities and optimize the flow of traffic. In this way, traditional main train stations are increasingly becoming mobility hubs, where different means of transport are seamlessly connected, such as vdv.de

Autonomous driving in public transport could ensure more efficient fine distribution of local transport by creating comprehensive mobility offers that do not require any parking spaces in the street. This allows areas that are used for privately used cars to be used for public transport, pedestrian traffic and greened city areas.