Deutsche Bahn wants to create attractive services for its customers beyond rail travel. Especially in rural areas, public transport options are often still limited or insufficient. Here, autonomous bus lines and on-demand shuttles can help expand local public transport in rural areas and encourage to switch from driving their own cars to using buses and trains. With pilot projects such as KIRA and ULTIMO, DB Regio is testing so-called Level 4 technology, in which vehicles move autonomously and driverless, within a defined area. Safety personnel are on board during trial operations.
Comprehensive service package for the industry
For autonomous driving to function successfully, effective interaction between various components and partners is necessary. To this end DB Regio combines technical and operational components into a holistic mobility solution and makes it available to the various local transport authorities.
Study examines the potential of autonomous driving
The study commissioned by DB Regio, titled "Autonomous driving - the key to tomorrow's mobility" (only available in German) uses detailed scenarios for the year 2045 to examine the benefits that autonomous driving can bring to people in Germany. According to the study, autonomous driving will be most efficient if it is integrated into public transport, which will then be further expanded and restructured. Self-driving shuttles play a central role in this. The study was carried out in collaboration with the software and transport planning company ioki, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Prognos AG. A cross-industry advisory board of experts supported the study.
More information about autonomous driving at DB Regio (only available in German)
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