RideFlux expands its driving range from Jeju, Sejong, and Busan to downtown Seoul.

Self-driving software startup RideFlux announced on the 13th that it will begin operating a self-driving public transport bus in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

The vehicles deployed this time are two minibuses based on the Hyundai Solati, capable of carrying up to 12 passengers. To ensure safety, standing passengers are not allowed. It operates on a fixed route like a village bus, picking up and dropping off passengers at designated stops along the established route.

The operation section is about 5.9 km from the Seodaemun District Office to Gajwa Station on the Gyeongi Jungang Line, passing by community centers like the Seodaemun Cultural and Sports Center and Baekryeon Market, as well as the Gajewool New Town.

Operating hours are from 9:20 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, with a frequency of about 25 minutes. Initially, it will be operated for free, and later it will transition to a paid service at a level comparable to regular village bus fares.

Each vehicle is equipped with 8 cameras, 5 LiDAR sensors, and 1 radar to recognize the movements of surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and objects in a 360-degree view.

Additionally, by linking with the Seoul Future Mobility Center, it monitors real-time location and autonomous driving status, and receives traffic data including traffic light information through the Intelligent Transportation System (C-ITS) for more stable operation. Safety personnel will be on board all vehicles to prepare for unexpected situations.

With this operation in Seodaemun-gu, RideFlux has expanded its self-driving service to Seoul and plans to extend its reach to the metropolitan area and major regional cities within the year. Currently, in Sangam, Seoul, a completely unmanned self-driving car (Driver-out) with no safety manager in the driver’s seat is being tested, making it the only one in the country.

Park Jong-hee, CEO of RideFlux, remarked, "The self-driving buses in Seodaemun-gu are a meaningful start for Seoul citizens to experience autonomous transportation in their daily lives," and stated, "We will expand across the country so that citizens can safely and reliably use services in more areas."

(Source: The Economist, Park Se-jin, 25.10.13.)