I have got on a driver without a driver in Barcelona and I have not noticed many differences in the trip. That says a lot

The completely autonomous driving It is one of the pending automotive subjects. Divided into levels, where the one is mere assistance and the five full autonomous, I have been able to get on a Level Bus Four. It is manufactured by Renault. And Barcelona lent its streets as an urban circuit. The experience was very positive.

Surprising by its reduced size, by the amount of cameras and sensors that surround the vehicle and because, after climbing, All seats are from passenger. There was no driver. Of course, Renault reserved one for the security operator: this can take control of the autonomous bus if an incidence occurs. During my journey there was no smallest problem.

Autonomous driving in the city and with traffic against

Before going to the test I imagined that Renault and the City Council would have cordoned off a street piece to circulate the bus in a controlled way. Nothing is further from reality: contrary to what happened The first time we got on the busI made my journey on a circuit open to usual traffic.

The center of Barcelona did not put it at all easy. Nothing better to test an eight -square robotaxi than to release it in the middle of the city with the rest of bus buses, the taxis crossing the lane, the pedestrians jumping in red by the zebra crossing and, ultimately, surviving the traffic of a city as large and chaotic as that of Barcelona. Renault’s autonomous bus faced obstacles each by responsible and with the maximum care.

I already commented that he is small, Renault raises his autonomous transport as a shuttle or “shuttle” vehicle; Without this implying that technology is suitable only for minibuses, since it is scalable to larger shots (OA cars). The interior has several seats in rows and each of them has a belt. All passengers must fashed it, the “FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS” sounds for internal megaphony as in the airplanes. And the bus complains when you take it off.

Soft, without accelerons and with a thousand eyes in the environment. Renault places two screens in the upper front area where the recognition made by the vehicle of the environment and the 3D representation of the circulation can be seen. The minibus has a complex recognition system that surrounds the outside with six Lidar, ten cameras, has four high -precision GPS RTK receptors and two 5G connection modules. Inside there are also cameras and sensors for the detection of passengers.

Like the rest of the vehicles that circulate on the road, the Renault minibus signals the turns, maintains the safety distances, responds in advance to the rest of the moving elements and circulates through the lanes remaining through the preferred urban circuit. Since the test seeks to cover a traditional bus line, the circuit has stops where passengers can go down and get from the bus.

A real and open test to everyone. The one in Barcelona is the first test of an autonomous passenger vehicle in a Spanish city and out of controlled situations. In fact, not only could we get the journalists: anyone who is in Barcelona can take the bus between Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla de Catalunya. The tour lasts half an hour and has six stops.

I appreciated a responsible, determined driving, without accelerons, the turns were soft and the speed according to the environment. I expected a somewhat more fearful driving, like someone who opens after taking the driving license. On the contrary: without losing safety for a moment, autonomous driving was very experienced. He even went through the narrow place that left a double row car: the bus did not hesitate for a second. I would have thought about it.

In the end, the feeling of going on an autonomous bus does not move away from traveling in a conventional one. Only you look forward and you don’t see anyone piloting, this is something that, logically, attracts attention. More out than inside.

The bus became a more tourist attraction. I was very surprised by the response of all the people who saw the bus. His feeling passed from the initial surprise to doubt, then to the intrigue. Many took their mobile and took pictures, greeted us, recorded us on video. And there was an answer that was recorded: the expectation of a group of taxi drivers when they saw the autonomous bus go ahead. I had to take the photo.

Having an experience that goes unnoticed once you get used to not seeing the driver is a success: autonomous driving is perfectly viable in the city, even with unpredictable traffic. Renault has developed a technology that responds perfectly and that can be anticipated even before a pedestrian that suddenly jumps to the road. The bus stopped almost dry when it perceived it several meters. And he resumed slowly once the pedestrian was on the sidewalk.

You only need a 5G connection. I think it is the case of use of the 5G that I have experienced clearer to date: as explained by Renault, to display an autonomous bus line only a stable 5G connection is needed. The vehicle integrates two 5G modules that constantly send the information that the vehicle is collecting. They did not know how to tell me exactly the size in data of such information, it was huge. So much, that they had exhausted the rates of several SIM cards used during the tests.

Renault uses 5G connectivity to manage the lines in real time from the control center, but the vehicle is completely autonomous at the local level: it has several computers that manage the information that collect cameras and sensors to act according to algorithms and training. To suffer a fall in the 5G network, or a congestion, the vehicle could continue to work without problems. And it does not need a specific network deployment: buses are open to any operator.

After getting out of the minibus I knew that it will not take long to get used to seeing them in the cities. I don’t think they displace conventional buses, but surely they live with them within a few years. 100 % autonomous technology is ready and is safe. He has convinced me.

Cover image | Iván Linares

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