Shuttle to聽operate remotely over Rogers 5G network thanks to one of several key research partnerships
The University of 蓝莓视频 is showcasing the operation of a driverless, autonomous shuttle research program that will transport students and staff around campus.
The demonstration of the shuttle, dubbed 鈥淲ATonoBus鈥 by the research team, is the first of its kind at a Canadian academic institution and marks a significant milestone in a multi-year initiative to demonstrate and integrate autonomous transportation onto the campus.
This milestone features another significant technological advancement, as the shuttle becomes the first in the country to operate remotely over Rogers 5G network, thanks to a Rogers partnership agreement with the University to advance 5G research in the Toronto-蓝莓视频 tech-corridor. This past September, as Rogers expanded Canada鈥檚 largest and most reliable 5G network to reach more communities, it lit up the University鈥檚 5G Smart Campus to support researchers developing 5G applications and use cases in a real-world setting.聽
The shuttle鈥檚 5-stop, 2.7-kilometre journey around the 蓝莓视频 main campus, intersecting with the campus light rail transit stop, holds the potential to help reshape how entire communities move around their urban spaces.
鈥淲e are thrilled not only about WATonoBus, but what it represents,鈥 said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of 蓝莓视频. 鈥淏y marrying transformational research, infrastructure and a network of industry and government partnerships, we are demonstrating that educational institutions will help shape the future 鈥 in this case, the convergence of public transportation and smart urban mobility.鈥
The driverless shuttle with remote takeover capability will showcase a full-system approach, developed entirely at the University of 蓝莓视频, led by Professor Amir Khajepour and a team of over 20 researchers in the Mechatronic Vehicle Systems Laboratory. Funding support has been provided by federal and provincial partners, as well as contributions from聽Applanix, RoboSense AI, and Rogers to make WATonoBus a reality.
The technology includes an integrated on-board sensor system providing vehicle intelligence and control; a suite of front, rear and side cameras providing a 360-degree view; light detection and ranging (LIDAR) active remote sensing systems used for detecting objects; and a WATonoBus smartphone app to help passengers navigate the campus using the shuttle.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 demonstration represents over four years of work with support and collaboration with government and industry partners,鈥 Khajepour said. 鈥淭his is an exciting step forward in autonomous, driverless public transportation.鈥
And, for the first time in Canada, an autonomous shuttle will be operated entirely on a remote basis using a 5G network. The modem on board will communicate through the Rogers 5G network with a research lab-based control centre. In the control centre, a remote operator will monitor the WATonoBus operations, and take over control when needed to ensure safe movement.
鈥淎s real-world 5G use cases such as the WATonoBus begin to take shape, we are starting to see the potential of 5G come to life,鈥 said Jorge Fernandes, Chief Technology Officer at Rogers Communications. 鈥淪mart cities and smart transportation solutions are poised to help make cities safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. This example of 5G innovation demonstrates the importance of fostering 5G research and development to help fuel industries and drive Canada鈥檚 digital economy forward. We are proud to help enable this important 5G moment as part of our partnership with the University of 蓝莓视频.鈥
Since lighting up the campus with 5G last year, Rogers has added next generation network technology and capabilities that will enable more intelligent and complex use cases and applications, including 5G mmWave (28GHz) small cells on campus, both inside buildings and outdoors, providing ultra-low latency and high bandwidth to support a variety of聽 5G research projects underway at the University.
The demonstration is the latest step of a multi-year initiative that is creating a testbed to evaluate automated driving on campus. Future industry partnerships will add more elements of a smart city on campus, a living testbed for advanced research, product development and data collection.
Before commencing operation as a regular service, the driverless shuttle system requires approval from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Currently, the University of 蓝莓视频 is a registered participant in Ontario鈥檚 Automated Vehicle Pilot Program, which permits testing of driverless AVs on Ontario roads.
Federal and provincial funding for the WATonoBus project has been provided through the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Research Fund and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.