Driverless, but not steerless: AI4CCAM and SHOW continue to steer for better public transport with automation

Since multiple years UITP is proud to be involved in various projects that leverage the power of automated mobility to create a better public transport network that is more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive.

Together with our members, UITP continuously spearheads innovation in CCAM (Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility). Also by participating in flagship projects such as SHOW and ULTIMO, UITP not only acknowledges the potential of AVs, but actively supports efforts of the CCAM sector.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered one of the key enabling technologies that can lead to the successful deployment of AVs. Indeed, AI can revolutionise the future of automotive mobility services by taking advantage of the huge amount of sensor data that it can assimilate.

However, the benefits of AI in automated mobility are hampered by ethical risks that can compromise its adoption by vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians, cyclists, or persons with disabilities.

The new, EU-funded AI4CCAM project was launched in January 2023 to address this hurdle by developing trustworthy tools and solutions for AVs using Artificial Intelligence. Since January 2023 UITP participates in this project, which gathers 14 partners from across the EU.

Taking into account all the capabilities and potential risks of AI, AI4CCAM wants to create models that can be used in automated services and will anticipate vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist behaviour, further advancing safety and user acceptance of AVs.

The UITP-led SHOW launched in January 2020 as a flagship project in Europe to actually deploy shared AVs on our streets. A challenging objective, yet early 2023 we can officially it is met head-on.

After a series of pre-trials, SHOW has since last autumn entered exciting times, with the 15 demo sites kicking off their real-life demonstration on open roads with real passengers. From two self-driving taxis transporting passengers between a bus station and shopping mall in Graz, to automated shuttles serving as a first/last mile feeder to metro stops in Karlsruhe, to small automated robots delivering small packages from suppliers to local stores in Trikala: SHOW has brought the future to many streets across Europe.

Find out more about the SHOW demos here.

One of the objectives of the SHOW project is to foster international cooperation on automated mobility by collaborating with global organisations working on CCAM beyond Europe.

This month, the SHOW Consortium enters into a collaboration with the University of San Francisco (USF) in California, a recent UITP member, which has been working for years in the field of automated mobility. USF’s “Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative” focuses on bringing together international leaders in technology business, policy, and academia to dialogue how cities can innovate in the new mobility future. The work of USF researchers, as a part of their pilot level-4 rider programme with Cruise, has gathered data on fully automated driving that is highly valuable for SHOW members – particularly for use cases investigating robotaxis such as Graz or Brno.

One of the initial outcomes of the collaboration will be an in-person workshop, hosting 20 graduate students from USF at UITP offices. The event will offer a creative opportunity to co-develop and ideate “outside of the box”  policy recommendations that can help facilitate the deployment of CCAM on European roads.

Together our goal is that the partnership between SHOW and USF will help maximise the benefits of automation for more sustainable, economically-viable and socially-just mobility outcomes around the globe.