After a comprehensive pre-study that validated the economic, technological and legal feasibility for a viable automated bus depot concept (full report available here), we are excited to announce the next phase: constructing the first prototype named “AutoDepot”. We are currently building a consortium of forward-thinking partners to bring this project to life.
One critical step remains: acquiring a drive-by-wire bus or retrofitting an existing model, as this technology is not yet available on the market. This presents a unique opportunity for a bus manufacturer to lead in innovation and gain a competitive edge in the Swiss market. With several Swiss public transport operators already committed to the project, the potential for growth and collaboration is attractive.
Current Consortium Partners:
- AMAG Innovation & Venture Lab
- BERNMOBIL Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Bern
- Embotech AG
- PostAuto AG
- SAAM Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility
- SwissMoves (HEIA-FR, HEG-FR, UNIFR)
- TPG Transports publics genevois
- Transports publics fribourgeois Trafic (TPF Trafic SA)
- VBSH Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffausen
- VBZ Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich
AutoDepot in a nutshell
The AutoDepot project introduces an innovative approach to bus depot automation, leveraging advanced infrastructure-based technology to enhance efficiency and safety. Within the depot, buses operate at a maximum speed of 3 km/h, ensuring controlled and safe movements. The intelligence of the system lies primarily in the infrastructure rather than the buses themselves, which are equipped only with drive-by-wire technology, with no onboard automation. The system is based on remote supervision. If a bus encounters an obstacle, it cannot resolve autonomously, the central management system is immediately notified, and a warning is issued to the operations center, where he can make informed decisions based on the system’s recommendations.
The vision for smarter, more efficient bus depots
This project will tackle the inefficiencies that lie within bus depots. In fact, drivers spend 15’000 hours on non-productive tasks in the depot where the study took place. It was estimated that 50% of those hours could be saved with an automated depot, where buses could autonomously go from one maintenance station to the other, freeing the driver for public transport operations.
In number it translates as follow:
- 7’500 hours saved per year for a 100-bus depot
- CHF 600’000.- of saving per year per depot in Switzerland
- More than € 1 billion of savings per year for Europe
Every day, bus drivers spend significant time waiting, maneuvering, and parking buses within depots. These activities do not contribute directly to passenger service and represent a substantial hidden cost in public transportation. By automating these processes and removing the need for the driver, AutoDepot seeks to reclaim these hours, converting them into productive time that benefits drivers, passengers, and operators alike.
The current situation
The driver shortage
In the current landscape of public transport, the shortage of bus drivers is a growing concern. In the Pre-Study, 60% of the public transport operator identified the risk of driver shortage to be impacting their operations in the next decade.
The whole of Europe is facing the same issue. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) reports that Europe currently has 105,000 unfilled bus and coach driver positions, a number that has increased by 54% since 2022. This shortage is projected to more than double by 2028, potentially leaving over 275,000 positions unfilled if no significant action is taken (IRU | World Road Transport Organisation) (Route One) .
The aging driver population exacerbates this issue, with more than 40% of bus and coach drivers over the age of 55 and less than 3% under 25. This demographic gap highlights the urgent need for strategies to attract younger drivers into the profession. The shortage also impacts operators’ ability to expand and maintain service quality, with 75% of operators unable to grow to meet customer demand and 48% facing declining productivity due to the lack of drivers (Route One) .
Given this context, maximizing productive hours becomes critical. One of the main reasons to implement automated bus depots is to address this issue directly.
Accidents in depot
Accidents within bus depots represent a significant challenge for public transport operators, impacting both safety and operational efficiency. In the pre-study conducted, 4 out of 5 transport operators reported experiencing accidents over the past decade. The number of accidents within depot premises varies widely, ranging from 3 to 50 per year per depot. These accidents predominantly involve collisions between buses and buses hitting obstacles resulting in property damage. Many of them were linked to careless maneuvering within the depot.
While the financial details of the damage incurred from these accidents are not disclosed in the report, the impact is undeniably significant. These accidents not only result in direct repair costs but also lead to downtime and potential disruptions in service.
The AutoDepot solution
Unlike traditional autonomous bus depots approaches that focus on automating the buses, AutoDepot shifts the focus to infrastructure. This means fewer modifications to buses, lower costs, and a more scalable solution. The infrastructure uses a combination of sensors, cameras, and automated control systems to guide buses to their maintenance spots and parking areas, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
As buses enter, they are seamlessly guided through various stages like washing, refueling, and maintenance, all without driver intervention.
This approach minimizes the need for expensive modifications to each bus. Instead, the depot itself becomes the intelligent hub, directing and managing bus movements efficiently.
This not only reduces costs but also simplifies the implementation process.
Project objectives and benefits
- Showcasing the AutoDepot concept
By showcasing the technology in action, the project aims to highlight the benefits of automation, including improved efficiency, enhanced safety, and reduced operational costs. This demonstration serves as a crucial step in gaining the confidence and support of stakeholders, including public transport operators, policymakers, and manufacturers.
- Validating the technical, economical and legal requirements.
In order to validate all the hypotheses of the study, a pilot project is essential. This pilot project will test the hypotheses in a real-world setting, ensuring that the technology meets the necessary performance standards and is economically viable. Additionally, the project will address any legal and regulatory challenges, ensuring compliance with existing laws and working towards the creation of new frameworks that support automation in public transport.
The benefits of joining AutoDepot
Pioneering Recognition
This pioneering project is set to garner significant industry and media attention, highlighting the participating partners as leaders in innovation. It offers a unique opportunity to become the early first adopters of the first economically viable automated bus depot technology.
Collaborative Growth
Joining the AutoDepot consortium means collaborating with a diverse group of industry leaders, technology firms, and academic institutions. This collaboration fosters knowledge sharing, drives innovation, and strengthens the collective ability to tackle challenges and achieve project goals.
Market Expansion Opportunities
With many Swiss public transport operators already on board, the AutoDepot project provides a strategic entry point into the Swiss market. Manufacturers and technology providers can showcase their innovations and establish themselves as leaders in a market that is rapidly embracing automation and smart infrastructure solutions.
Technological Innovation
As we move into the next phase of the AutoDepot project, bus manufacturers have a unique opportunity to lead in the development of drive-by-wire technology and smart infrastructure. Participating in this groundbreaking project allows partners to be at the forefront of technological innovation, setting industry standards and paving the way for widespread adoption of automated bus depots.
Real-world applications and success stories
Global innovations in bus depot automation – Case studies from around the world
- France – RATP and partners
In 2018, RATP, CEA List, and Iveco Bus retrofitted a bus with sensors and navigation controllers to perform autonomous parking maneuvers. The project highlighted the potential to reduce driver working time and parking space requirements while assisting drivers with technological aids.
- Sweden – Autonomous bus on depot
In 2019, Volvo and Keolis demonstrated an autonomous bus at a Göteborg depot, showcasing its ability to navigate from parking to cleaning and charging areas independently. Utilizing OppCharge technology, the bus could charge without manual connection, highlighting seamless autonomous operations within the depot.
- Seoul Robotics LV5 CTRL TWR (South Korea)
This system developed by Seoul Robotics, used in collaboration with BMW, demonstrated the power of infrastructure-based vehicle management. The result allows thousands of vehicles to drive autonomously simultaneously in a controlled network, navigating safely around obstacles and other vehicles with very high precision.
- Germany – BMW Startup garage – BMW, Seoul Robotics, Embotech & others
In 2021, BMW Group’s “Automated Driving in the Plant” project, involving startups Seoul Robotics and Embotech, introduced autonomous driving in production premises using infrastructure-based sensors instead of vehicle-mounted ones. This innovative approach allows any vehicle to navigate autonomously, offering significant economic advantages by reducing the need for additional onboard sensors.
Join the AutoDepot and become part of the future of public transport
The time is now
The future of public transport is here, and it’s automated, efficient, and sustainable. AutoDepot represents a significant step forward in achieving this vision.
Consortium members benefit from being at the cutting edge of public transport innovation. They gain early access to new technologies, improve their operational efficiency, and position themselves as leaders in the industry. This strategic advantage not only enhances their market presence but also opens up new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Interested parties can reach out to the Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility (SAAM) for more information and to start the collaboration process.
Together, we can transform bus depots and empower drivers.
