Australasian Bus & Coach — October 2017

(^14) ABC October 2017 busnews.com.au
Above:Electric
Ohmio Hop
shuttles will be
on the streets
of New Zealand
by 2019
DRIVERLESS SHUTTLE
FACTORY WIN FOR NZ
Ohmio Automotion will start
manufacturing self-driving vehicles
in New Zealand, it has been
announced recently.
The company showcased
three shuttle buses that feature
self-driving vehicle technology
developed by HMI Technologies in
New Zealand recently.
Fully operational prototypes of
the electric Ohmio Hop shuttles
carried passengers including school
children as they performed on a
circuit around the Christchurch
Art Gallery.
Ohmio claims to be one of the
fi rst companies whose shuttles can
form a connected convoy, which can
move effi ciently and safely together
in formation.
Ohmio vehicles include
self-mapping artifi cial intelligence.
Once they have completed their
route once, they are able to self-drive
the route over and over.
The importance of this is that the
vehicles can be quickly deployed
and relocated as required. All models
will be built around technology
developed by parent company HMI
Technologies, which specialises in
intelligent transport systems (ITS).
HMI has been developing and
manufacturing ITS solutions for
15 years. Its technology includes
electronic signs, sensors and
software for monitoring transport
to aid management of urban and
rural transport environments. HMI
Technologies founder Mohammed
Hikmet says being in New Zealand
offers the company an advantage.
“The testing and deployment of
autonomous vehicles elsewhere
is slowed down by legislation or
requires special permits. Here in
New Zealand, the government
already allows for testing of
driverless vehicles,” he says.
Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel
is excited by the Ohmio technology
and what it will mean for the city’s
future direction.
“We are seizing the opportunity
to become a testbed for emerging
technologies,” she says.
“We won’t be swamped by
disruption – we will embrace it.”
The vehicles will range in size from
small to large shuttles and freight
pods and customisable vehicles.
A range of four Ohmio models is
planned for production before 2019.
“Here in NZ, the government already
allows for testing of driverless vehicles”
NEWS