The autonomous driving software startup Rideflux announced on the 20th that it will launch an autonomous public transportation bus service in the Osiria tourist complex in Busan starting from the 16th. The service is significant as it is the first fully open autonomous bus service that can be used by ordinary citizens in the complicated roads of Busan.

The autonomous bus 'Big AI' that will begin operation through the project will consist of a total of four 9-meter class electric buses, each capable of carrying a maximum of 15 passengers. Big AI will provide a fixed route circular service identical to that of a regular public transport bus.

The buses will operate on two routes (A and B, each 4.8km round trip) connecting key local destinations, starting from the Donghae Line Osiria Station to the National Busan Science Museum, East Busan Tourist Complex, Yonggungsa Temple, and the entrance to Ananti. After a free trial operation from now until December 19, it is expected to transition to a paid service in the future. After the transition to a paid service, transfers to other public transportation will also become possible.

Rideflux has equipped the vehicles with 8 cameras and 6 LiDAR sensors to enable 360-degree real-time awareness of the movements of surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and objects, and will provide more stable autonomous cooperative driving through integration with the intelligent transportation system (C-ITS) along the route.

Through this, stable autonomous driving has been implemented even in complex situations that require high-level driving judgments, such as left turns and U-turns at signal intersections amidst mixed traffic situations along with ordinary vehicles. Busan has a complex road system, which is evaluated as challenging for drivers. If the autonomous driving system succeeds, it is expected to enable enhanced level 2 and 3 driving and big data collection.

Following the introduction of the round-trip 116km autonomous public transportation service 'Tamra Autonomous Vehicle' connecting Jeju City Hall and Seogwipo City Hall last year, Rideflux is expanding citizens' experience of autonomous driving services in their daily lives with this Busan Osiria project.

Moreover, there are plans to expand the service area nationwide to include the metropolitan area and major local cities within this year, declaring the start of the 'era of the popularization of autonomous public transportation' across the country.

Park Joong-hee, CEO of Rideflux, said, "The Osiria autonomous bus will be a turning point for autonomous driving to establish itself as public transportation in citizens' daily lives, going beyond mere technological verification," and added, "Rideflux will continue to lead urban traffic innovation through safe and reliable autonomous mobility services."

(Source: Economic Review, Yang Jung-min, 25.09.20.)