Level 4 automated bus highlights New
Flyer's dedication to innovation and the strength of
its partnership with Robotic Research
ST. CLOUD, Minn., Jan. 29, 2021 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of
America Inc. ("New Flyer"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"),
one of the world's leading independent global bus manufacturers,
today unveiled its Xcelsior AV™ automated transit bus, now in
motion at Robotic Research, LLC ("Robotic Research") in
Maryland.
The Xcelsior AV™ unveiling follows New Flyer's launch of its
Automated Technology Program first announced in May 2019, and the subsequent announcement of
partnership with artificial intelligence and automation leader
Robotic Research also announced in May
2019.
New Flyer and Robotic Research developed the Xcelsior AV™ –
North America's first fully
operational heavy-duty automated transit bus – to harness the
zero-emission power of New Flyer's Xcelsior CHARGE™
battery-electric propulsion while integrating advanced
driver-assistance systems ("ADAS") technology to meet Society
of Automotive Engineers ("SAE") Standard J3016 Level 4 technology
with the automated vehicle ("AV").
"Our Xcelsior AV represents the anticipated future of
safety in public transit and the latest leap forward for New Flyer.
We committed to building an automated transit bus and within five
years, we've delivered an industry-changing vehicle. The technology
is real and it's here," said Chris
Stoddart, President, New Flyer and MCI. "In the future, we
expect fleets of automated buses to improve road safety and with
the potential to shorten commute times, increase energy efficiency,
and reduce congestion. As standards and regulations are developed
and implemented and automated buses are deployed across
North America, we expect our
Xcelsior AV to enable meaningful improvements in the public transit
user experience, which will hopefully lead to increased ridership.
Together with Robotic Research, we are leading clean, accessible,
reliable mobility that's safer for all."
Robotic Research is a privately held, U.S.-based innovative
engineering and technology company providing software, robotic
technology, and automated solutions to commercial and government
customers. Its testing facilities are located in Gaithersburg and Clarksburg, Maryland.
"Autonomous technology is not only expected to increase the
safety of transit, but is also anticipated to increase the
throughput and utilization of vehicles. Automated buses have the
potential to improve traffic patterns and reduce stop-and-go
traffic, benefiting not only the users of mass transportation, but
the whole infrastructure," said, Alberto
Lacaze, President of Robotic Research. "New Flyer just
introduced the missing piece of a fully integrated, smart
transportation solution. This vehicle unlocks a new era of
Transportation as a Service, leveraging technological advancements
across industries to create a safer, cleaner, more efficient, and
more accessible transportation solution for the public."
Xcelsior AV™ capabilities are made possible by two primary
technologies. The first is AutoDrive®, Robotic
Research's self-driving technology, serving as the "eyes and brain"
of the autonomous system and processing the world surrounding the
bus, including mapping the environment, making decisions, and
navigating the route. The second is Robotic Research's AutoDrive
ByWire™ (drive-by-wire system), serving as the "hands and feet" of
the automated system and controlling the steering, braking, and
throttle, ultimately operating bus movement on its route. This AV
technology delivers several capabilities that are expected to be
leveraged in making the mobility experience safer. These system
capabilities include:
- Visualizing the environment: the bus can visualize its current
environment using sensors (such as LIDARs, radars, and cameras)
that create a three-dimensional model of the world to navigate
through.
- Pedestrian detection and avoidance: the bus can detect the
presence of a pedestrian and adjust course to avoid.
- Vehicle detection: the bus uses 360° sensors to detect the
presence of other vehicles, responding with course adjustment as
appropriate.
- Precision docking: the bus is maneuvered precisely to allow for
level boarding from the bus platform for passengers with
accessibility needs.
- Vehicle-to-Vehicle (or "V2V"): the bus has the ability to
communicate directly with other vehicles, which allows safe
platooning.
- Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (or "V2I"): the bus communicates with
signalized intersections or other infrastructure-based alerts, such
as pedestrian and vehicle alerts (e.g. "Beacon Sense™"). These
features will also assist in improving bus depot safety, efficiency
and space usage through features such as self-parking, fueling and
cleaning.
- Day or night operation: the bus is fully capable of operating
day or night, regardless of lighting or weather events, based on
its defined Operational Design Domain (or "ODD").
- Safe and redundant system: the bus is capable of running when
GPS is unavailable – responding to real-time data and events as
they occur, instead of relying only on pre-mapped routes,
buildings, and infrastructure.
- Performance analytics: the bus is integrated with nSight
end-to-end data collection to analytics technology, lending deep
insight on bus performance and its interaction with other vehicles
and infrastructure through its route and operation.
The Xcelsior AV™ furthers the Federal Transit Administration
("FTA") Strategic Transit Automation Research Plan to assess
potential risks, barriers, and mitigation strategies associated
with the implementation of automation technologies in transit
buses. In 2020, New Flyer announced North
America's first deployment of automated transit buses into
revenue service, in a pilot project with the Connecticut Department
of Transportation funded by the FTA's Integrated Mobility
Innovation initiative, supporting projects demonstrating innovative
and effective practices to enhance public transportation
effectiveness, efficiency, quality, safety, and transit rider
experience.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration1, AVs offer fourfold potential
benefits:
- Economic and societal: AVs save $242
billion in costs incurred by motor vehicle crashes,
including $57.6 billion in lost
workplace productivity, and $594
billion due to loss of life and decreased quality of life
due to injuries;
- Safety: AVs improve safety and use ADAS technology to avoid
collisions – of which 94% of serious crashes are caused by human
error;
- Efficiency and convenience: roads filled with AVs could smooth
traffic flow and reduce traffic congestion, freeing up to 50
minutes per day of non-driving; and
- Mobility, accessibility, and jobs: studies suggest that AVs
could create new employment opportunities for approximately two
million people with disabilities.
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1 NHTSA Benefits of
Automation
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To explore what Xcelsior AV™ technology can offer your city, and
to start shaping a safer, more accessibly future visit
newflyer.com/AV. In addition to detailed product specifications,
the site also features information on standards development and
insight on long-term technology planning.
New Flyer has been leading innovation in mobility for 90 years,
and today supports growing North American cities with sustainable
buses, technology, and infrastructure. It also operates the Vehicle
Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind
dedicated to advancing bus technology and providing essential
workforce development through electric bus training, now available
online.
About NFI
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the
electrification of mass mobility around the world. With
zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology,
NFI meets today's urban demands for scalable smart mobility
solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through
connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.
With 8,000 team members in ten countries, NFI is a leading
global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands
New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI®
(motor coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck
buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor
cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently
offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available,
including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell),
natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI
supports its installed base of over 105,000 buses and coaches
around the world. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information is available at
www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com,
www.arbocsv.com, www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
About New Flyer
New Flyer is North America's
heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product
line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE™ brands. It
also offers infrastructure development through New Flyer
Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe,
sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions. New
Flyer actively supports over 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New
Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 8,600 are
powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 are
zero-emission. Further information is available at
www.newflyer.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which
reflect the expectations of management regarding New Flyer's and
NFI's strategic initiatives, plans, business prospects and
opportunities, including the future existence and growth of a
market for autonomous transit vehicles and the economic, efficiency
and safety benefits arising therefrom. The words "believes",
"views", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "projects",
"forecasts", "estimates", "guidance" and "targets", "may", "will",
and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward looking
statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable
assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will
be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the
differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially
from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking
statements for a variety of reasons, including, market and general
economic conditions and economic conditions of and funding
availability for customers to purchase autonomous (or automated)
vehicles; autonomous technology currently in existence has not yet
been fully developed and tested for use in transit vehicle
applications; autonomous vehicle regulations and standards have not
yet been developed and implemented to permit fully autonomous
transit vehicles to be operated in revenue service; the Xcelsior
AVTM is a prototype vehicle which is currently being
tested on a closed course and thereafter in limited revenue service
and therefore the gathering and review of operational and safety
data are still in early stages and is not complete; there may not
be sufficient customer demand for autonomous transit vehicles,
including the Xcelsior AVTM, or at all, in order to
commence or maintain manufacturing for such products; the expected
economic, efficiency improvements and safety benefits described in
this release for the communities, customers and passengers that
operate and ride on autonomous transit vehicles may not be as great
as those anticipated or may not be realized at all; and the other
risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, NFI
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.
SOURCE New Flyer of America Inc.