Autonomous driving know-how agency WeRide has merely launched Southeast Asia’s first completely driverless Robobus service at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. This marks a giant milestone for the world, as a result of the autonomous automotive operates on public roads with none safety officer on board.
The launch follows a full 12 months of worthwhile trials the place the Robobus operated with a safety officer, safely transporting tens of tons of of passengers. After intensive testing and assessments, WeRide acquired the inexperienced mild from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to remove the human supervisor.
“This launch marks a groundbreaking milestone for WeRide and the way in which ahead for mobility in Southeast Asia. Deploying the world’s first completely driverless Robobus demonstrates that our vehicles are safe, reliable, and in a position to rework public transportation at scale.
We price Singapore’s sturdy regulatory assist and our shut collaboration with native companions in making this launch attainable, reflecting our worldwide methodology to working with progressive governments to hold autonomous driving know-how into real-world operations.”
Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of Worldwide, WeRide.
The Robobus corporations a 12-minute mounted loop, connecting key places contained in the resort along with Equarius Resort, Resort Michael, Resort Ora, and The Galleria. Sooner than this, the automotive was already notable for being Singapore’s first autonomous bus engaged on public roads with out a steering wheel or pedals.
The best way it really works
Safety first
The Robobus has achieved a zero-incident safety doc, underpinned by a sophisticated array of distant operations and onboard know-how.
360-degree imaginative and prescient
An built-in setup of LIDARs, cameras, and sensors affords a whole view of the setting, in a position to detecting obstacles from over 200 metres away.
This enchancment aligns with Singapore’s nationwide imaginative and prescient to mix autonomous vehicles into its public transport group by the highest of 2025. To assist this, WeRide has moreover established a neighborhood R&D centre to further advance its AV know-how.
“AV know-how is an thrilling enchancment that has the potential to type the way in which ahead for mobility. WeRide is an occasion of how AV firms can confederate with Singapore to undertake AV trials and R&D, and create new jobs resembling software program program enchancment engineers, machine finding out engineers and information scientists. We proceed to welcome curiosity from firms to confederate with us in driving AV innovation.”
Cindy Koh, Authorities Vice President, EDB.
“LTA has been working with WeRide to facilitate autonomous shuttle trials at Resorts World Sentosa. As part of LTA’s AV analysis framework… they could proceed to remove the onboard safety operator requirement and substitute it with mounted distant monitoring as a substitute.
LTA will proceed to work intently with firms that search to deploy AVs to alleviate manpower constraints, enhance productiveness and enhance transport connectivity,”
Lam Wee Shann, Deputy Chief Authorities (Know-how) and Chief Know-how Officer at LTA.
This isn’t WeRide’s solely play in Singapore, with the company moreover deploying its autonomous Robosweeper vehicles for sanitation initiatives.
Whereas there’s no phrase on when WeRide’s know-how may make its answer to Australian shores, this launch affords a fascinating check out the way in which ahead for public transport. It demonstrates a clear pathway from trial to fully driverless industrial operation.
For additional knowledge, head to https://www.weride.ai/
Keep forward of the curve with NextBusiness 24. Discover extra tales, subscribe to our publication, and be part of our rising group at nextbusiness24.com

