Special award for the Silesian University of Technology 

On April 20th, we met the winners of the jubilee, 25th edition of the competition of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development and the National Centre for Research and Development "Polish Product of the Future". 

The special award of the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy as well as the PAED and NCRD awards were awarded to the autonomous, electric minibus Blees from Blees sp. z o. o. 

The autonomous, electric minibus Blees, as a supplement to public transport, is the result of cooperation between Blees and the Silesian University of Technology.  

The remote-controlled minibus is the answer to the market demand. For years, there has been talk of a deficit of drivers. Our product - an autonomous minibus - is a response to these challenges. The first two vehicles that will appear next year will be ready for implementation - said Martyna Wiśniowska, general director of Blees. The company's representatives ensure that the modern driverless vehicle is safe. 

The vehicle will use a state-of-the-art remote control and monitoring system, an innovative passenger information system and an on-demand transport management system tailored to the needs of passengers. The company's ambition is to build the world's first homologated electric and autonomous minibus, in accordance with the stringent standards for the automotive industry. 

The vehicle can take 15 people at a time (there are 7 seats in the minibus), it is also adapted to the needs of wheelchair users and the visually impaired.  

The autonomous minibus is at the stage of readiness for the first implementations. In May 2022, Blees produced a prototype of the target vehicle. From June 2022 to November 2022, the company tested an advanced prototype in near-real conditions, which is in line with TRL6. Full-fledged vehicles will be available around June 2023, with first deployments planned for August 2023 

More information about the contest: 25th edition of the Polish Product of the Future Competition - Catalog of Winners (parp.gov.pl)