World's First Autonomous Tram Now Operating in Germany

A Siemens tram is carrying passengers now, but the project remains a pilot as the tram is not commercially available.

1 minute read

October 1, 2018, 1:00 PM PDT

Driverless Tram uses radar, and ladar among other tools to detect pedestrians and other vehicles that may cross its tracks. | Artist's Rendering / Los Angeles Streetcar

The German city of Potsdam has a normal looking low floor tram with a unique feature. "The world’s first autonomous tram was launched in unspectacular style in the city of Potsdam, west of Berlin, on Friday," reports Kate Connolly. The vehicle from Siemens uses radar, lidar, and other sensors to avoid collisions with the traffic and pedestrians that cross its tracks. "Its makers say it is some way from being commercially viable, but they do expect it to contribute to the wider field of driverless technology, and have called it an important milestone on the way to autonomous driving," Connolly writes.

The tram is co-piloted by a human driver who watches the tracks as the green and white vehicle moves through the smallish German town.

FULL STORY: Germany launches world's first autonomous tram in Potsdam

Sunday, September 23, 2018 in The Guardian

Transportation Europe Potsdam Public Transit Siemens Transit Innovation Autonomous Vehicles tram View More

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