At the Silesian University of Technology, we are testing the vehicle of the future
The first Polish autonomous minibus has been carrying passengers around the campus of the Silesian University of Technology for a week. The project was created in cooperation with scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and the Blees company from Gliwice. The vehicle tests last only a few days, and over a thousand people have already ridden the bus.
History is happening before our eyes - admitted the participants of the conference presenting the first Polish autonomous minibus at the Silesian University of Technology, which has been tested on the Gliwice campus since November 20th. This extraordinary vehicle was created thanks to the cooperation of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and the Blees company from Gliwice.
- When the Silesian University of Technology was established, heavy industry dominated. Today, when we present modern technologies and St. Barbara's Day celebrations take place in the background, we see how tradition meets modernity at the Silesian University of Technology. This is a perfect coincidence, because we are still continuing the development of mining engineering, without which solutions such as this minibus would not be created. You need to know that all the elements of this vehicle are produced from raw materials extracted around the world by mining engineers, they are the basis for the construction of, among others, engines and control systems – said prof. dr Eng. Arkadiusz Mężyk, the rector of the Silesian University of Technology, and noted that the campus area is open to everyone who wants to meet modern technology live.
- We invite all residents to test it and take a bus ride - not only those who know the possibilities of modern technologies, but also those who are still afraid to trust such solutions. The opinions of all passengers are very important to us, said dr hab. Eng. Anna Timofiejczuk – prof. SUT, dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, who supervised the cooperation of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology with the Blees company. The role of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology under the leadership of prof. Piotr Przystałka in this project was to prepare algorithms and a remote operator station.
Blees representatives have no doubt that an autonomous bus is the vehicle of the future that everyone should see with their own eyes.
- An autonomous bus will be the answer to many problems that public transport currently struggles with, including driver shortage or high operating costs. Accessible and convenient public transport also has a positive impact on the environment, but also improves the quality of life of residents, so we have great hopes for our project and these tests. In order for BB1 to be able to travel safely on routes in Poland, one more element is important - the need to adapt road traffic regulations, if there is interest in the bus, there is a chance to introduce solutions in this area faster - said Martyna Wiśniowska - CEO of Blees.
Local government officials also see hope in the new means of communication.
- For years, we have been basing the development of Gliwice on the cooperation of the golden triangle, i.e. modern entrepreneurs, scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and the local government. Thanks to this, we achieve great successes and what we are witnessing today is the product that is the result of such cooperation. We are glad that a modern product,
an autonomous bus, which was created with the participation of our entrepreneurs from Blees and our scientists, is being tested elsewhere, but in Gliwice - emphasized Adam Neumann, mayor of Gliwice.
Tests of the autonomous minibus will last until mid-December. Passengers can take a bus ride along Akademicka Street from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Today's conference was also an opportunity to summarize the competition for the names of the stops where the tested minibus stops. Let us recall that the winning names in the competition were: PoliBlees Rectorate, Crossroads of a Thousand Possibilities and Mages' Tower.
