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MATILDA SMART BUS STOP MAKES AUSSIE DEBUT IN ADELAIDE

THE SMART TRANSIT HUB known as ‘Matilda’ made its Australian debut at world’s first integrated driverless technology trial, it’s reported recently.

South Australia company Sage Automation has helped to achieve transport history with the Australian debut of ‘Matilda’ – the world’s first smart transit hub, it states.

The locally developed and manufactured Matilda partners with the Olli driverless electric shuttle developed by the US-based Local Motors for the milestone six-month trial at Glenelg.

One of the Matilda smart transit hubs is located outside the Stamford Grand and another is adjacent to the Broadway Kiosk, with the Olli shuttle taking passenger between the two stops along the beachside route.

The AUD$1.6m trial has been made possible through a $700,000 grant from the state government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund to boost local testing, research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

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WORLD FIRST

“This type of integrated technology trial has never been done anywhere in the world before, and we look forward to giving people an interactive, personalised experience, including real-time travel updates and route assistance through Matilda, and testing how this exciting technology interacts with the Local Motors driverless shuttle,” said Sage chief executive officer, Adrian Fahey.

“Passengers can ‘talk’ to our Matilda transit hub, receive directions, book a ride using touchscreen technology, receive congestion alerts and even ask questions about local tourist attractions, or where to get a cold drink,” he said.

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“To grow smart, accessible cities of the future we need to make devices, vehicles and infrastructure talk to each other – and Matilda offers a seamless, tailored transit service by communicating with any driverless bus fleet and the people wanting to catch one.”

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SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION

The trial demonstrates how a first-and last-mile transport solution can integrate with existing public transport, fill any service gaps and reduce traffic congestion in heavily-populated urban spaces, according to Sage.

It also showcases how driverless technologies can share public space with pedestrians, cyclists and recreational activities, it adds.

Relocatable within a few hours, each Matilda runs on solar or battery power and is fully self-contained, meaning that it can easily be trialled at different ‘first’ or ‘last mile’ locations. That unique flexibility allows the smart transit hub to be rapidly deployed for network maintenance and downtime periods, used during temporary deployment during special events, and for testing demand for new public transport services.

Fahey says the trial will be monitored in real-time from Sage Automation’s state-of-the-art national operations centre as part of the trial’s operational and maintenance support, ensuring a high level of security for autonomous vehicle operators and users, and providing data to enhance future deployments.

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ASSISTING THE VISUALLY IMPARIED

“In addition to leading-edge technologies, such as IBM Watson and KinTrans systems, each Matilda features audio and visual cues to assist anyone with visual and hearing impairments, as well as making it easier for elderly commuters and those with disability,” he said.

Olli will be travelling at a walking pace during the trial and will carry up to eight passengers and a steward on board.

People will be able to ride at no cost and can book a seat at each Matilda via the interactive screen or online via www.gotoSAGE.com/matilda.

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ABOUT SAGE

With its head office based in Adelaide, South Australia, Sage Automation is a global group with a team of 350 people across three continents, 13 offices and five companies – all with a shared commitment to making the world smarter, safer and more sustainable, it states.

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