Empowering Autonomous Shuttles with Next-Generation Infrastructure

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a proof-of-concept system integrating autonomous shuttles with smart infrastructure, including perception-equipped bus stops and connected pedestrian intersections, to enhance urban mobility.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive architecture for smart bus stops, integrates multiple urban locations into a cohesive ecosystem, and develops adaptive shuttle behaviors for automated driving.

Findings

Successful deployment at a public fair demonstrating system functionality

Open source dataset and V2X driver published for research use

Enhanced urban transit connectivity and responsiveness

Abstract

As cities strive to address urban mobility challenges, combining autonomous transportation technologies with intelligent infrastructure presents an opportunity to transform how people move within urban environments. Autonomous shuttles are particularly suited for adaptive and responsive public transport for the first and last mile, connecting with smart infrastructure to enhance urban transit. This paper presents the concept, implementation, and evaluation of a proof-of-concept deployment of an autonomous shuttle integrated with smart infrastructure at a public fair. The infrastructure includes two perception-equipped bus stops and a connected pedestrian intersection, all linked through a central communication and control hub. Our key contributions include the development of a comprehensive system architecture for "smart" bus stops, the integration of multiple urban locations into a cohesive smart transport ecosystem, and the creation of adaptive shuttle behavior for automated driving. Additionally, we publish an open source dataset and a Vehicle-to-X (V2X) driver to support further research. Finally, we offer an outlook on future research directions and potential expansions of the demonstrated technologies and concepts.