Posted by Arno Maierbrugger on August 22, 2013

Singapore will set the standard for self-driving vehicles in Asia once it deploys the first driverless electric vehicle, planned to ply a 2-kilometer route between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and JTC Corporation’s CleanTech Park.

The two-year test project is the first of its kind in the region and could be used to replace shuttle buses. The Navia shuttle, that looks quite like an oversized golf cart, can carry up to 8 passengers along predetermined routes, selectable through a touchscreen tablet integrated into the dashboard.

The vehicle, developed by NTU’s Energy Research Institute, in conjunction with JTC and vehicle manufacturer Induct, and supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, uses a number of laser-mapping units, along with optical cameras, to generate a real-time 3D map of its surroundings. The cameras and lasers allows the shuttle to avoid obstacles, stay in its lane and keep from mowing down pedestrians. It speeds at 20 kilometers per hour.

Once the shuttle has completed its route, it automatically heads to its wireless fast charging station without needing any rails, overhead lines or wires embedded in the roads to function.

The electric vehicle is already in use in USA and Europe, but NTU is developing and testing new technologies to reduce its charging time and improve performance. If the trials prove to be successful, the vehicle manufacturer said it may produce the driverless vehicle in Singapore and commercialise it in Asia.