staff reporter. SUPPLIED

A new fully automated driverless minibus will be unveiled in Abu Dhabi next month. A model of this minibus, operated by Txai, is on display at the Government of Abu Dhabi stand at Gitex Global. "We have integrated a lot of digital maps, technologies, radar, LiDER and cameras to make this project a possibility," said Sultan al Menhali, project manager of traffic systems at the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). The bus, which will be completely free, will seat seven people and can accommodate four standing passengers. It will make nine stops on Yas Island, including the W hotel, Yas Water World, Yas Marina Circuit, and Ferrari World. Txai, the region's first driverless taxi service, is outfitted with cutting-edge navigation tools. According to Sultan, the bus was developed based on the company's experience with the pilot-robo-taxi, which has been operating on Yas Island for nearly a year. "The taxis are driverless, but we have a safety officer manning it at all times," he said. "In the last year, we have not had a single incident, so we are confident we can seamlessly integrate the buses into the current traffic situation at Yas Island." The ITC announced in March of this year that phase 1 of the pilot driverless taxi services in Abu Dhabi's Yas Island had been completed successfully. During phase 1, the service covered over 16,000 kilometers and received over 2,700 passenger reservations. It can be hailed using a smart app. According to officials, the ITC is in charge of establishing the necessary infrastructure for using self-driving vehicles within the transportation network. BKM/ Expat Media
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