Boca Raton Introduces Fare-Free Self-Driving Shuttle

Boca Raton, Florida has launched an autonomous shuttle service in a downtown park.  According to reporting by Zahra Awan in Autonomous Vehicle International, “The initial service focuses on short, predictable trips between restaurants, shops and cultural venues, giving residents and visitors a convenient way to experience autonomous mobility.” If this first deployment is successful, the city could extend the route to 2.6 miles to complement the existing BocaConnect electric shuttle network.

The electric shuttles seat eight and are limited to a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour. As Awan explains, “Seven lidar sensors and multiple cameras provide full 360° perception, critical systems are redundantly engineered to prevent single-point failures and substantial effort has gone into ensuring robust cybersecurity. Passenger-focused features include air conditioning, double doors and built-in support for teleoperation and remote monitoring.”