KT racing toward autonomous driverless buses with test run in Anyang

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KT racing toward autonomous driverless buses with test run in Anyang

Published: 27 May. 2024, 17:17 Updated: 27 May. 2024, 17:40

LEE JAE-LIM
lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr

KT's autonomous driving buses in Anyang, Gyeonggi, have achieved Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing the vehicle to drive itself under limited conditions. [LEE JAE-LIM]

KT has set a goal of completing driverless technology for buses by 2027 with the successful test run of autonomous driving buses in Anyang, Gyeonggi.

By August, the advanced buses with Level 3 autonomous driving capability, which are currently operating for free, will transition to a paid public service for passengers. At Level 3, a driver must always remain present but the vehicle operates autonomously under certain conditions.

The autonomous buses are equipped with four light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensors, five cameras and one radar through which the major Korean telecom company deploys two of its Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) as seen by the reporter during a press trip on Monday.

KT's longer-term sights are set on Level 4 technology, also known as high driving automation, in which vehicles are completely responsible for all driving and navigational tasks in designated areas. Eventually, the company hopes to introduce its ITS products in remote, suburban areas that lack a supply of bus drivers.

KT's autonomous driving buses operating for test runs in Anyang, Gyeonggi, on Monday [NEWS1]

“Level 4 autonomous driving is expected to be technically ready for implementation in 2027, but the commercialization of the advanced models is likely to be after 2030, considering societal acceptance and the integration of the systems within the road infrastructure," said Choi Kang-rim, head of KT’s AI Mobility Business, at a press event in Anyang.

One of the company's two flagship ITS products is Road Master, which analyzes and predicts future traffic conditions to prevent accidents and risks based on historical traffic data and AI reinforcement learning. The other is Mobility Makers, a cloud-based autonomous driving platform that manages real-time data on autonomous vehicles and road infrastructure, and relays the necessary information to the vehicles instantly.

“KT’s strength in our ITS solutions lies in utilizing vast amounts of real-time traffic data to enhance safety in autonomous driving,” Choi said. “Mobility Makers analyzes the collected data and sends back necessary information to vehicles in real time. This platform serves as an essential AI engine when combined with Road Master, generating various data crucial for autonomous driving. It plays a significant role in the decision-making process of ITS.”

The advanced buses in Anyang have been under pilot operation since April 22. KT has run other autonomous driving projects in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, and on Jeju Island, but Anyang is the first for which a paid service is being considered.

“The Anyang city route can be quite challenging compared to other regions such as Pangyo and Jeju,” Choi said. “There are often illegally parked cars around the stops. In such situations, the system uses AI to continuously learn and improve to find the optimal places to stop, switch lanes and park. Compared to existing autonomous shuttle buses, you’ll likely perceive a difference in how the vehicle handles these challenges."

When this reporter rode on the bus, the vehicle could indeed drive itself — but it experienced frequent lurches and stops compared to human-driven rides, enough to cause mild nausea for those sensitive to motion.

As a safety precaution, passengers under the age of six are not permitted, and all riders must be seated aboard the 16-seat bus.

“It’s because the system is sensitive to what it perceives as obstacles,” KT’s Park Bong-ki, manager of the mobility DX consulting & implementation team, explained during the ride. “The ITS is engineered to prioritize safety, ensuring that any potential hazards, like a person standing at the edge of a pedestrian street, are promptly identified as such, and the vehicle comes to a stop.”

KT's intelligent transportation system perceives real-time traffic conditions for autonomous driving. [LEE JAE-LIM]

Passengers can experience the buses for free until Aug. 14, at which point they will pivot to a paid service that can be reserved through the mobility app “Dokta.” The fare hasn’t been finalized yet, but KT presumes that it will be priced similarly to town shuttle buses, which is set at 1,350 won (99 cents) for adults in Anyang. Town shuttle buses are vehicles that operate on shorter routes within a neighborhood for the convenience of residents.

The bus serves 11 stops on a daytime route spanning 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles), and 22 stops on a 14.4-kilometer nighttime route.

The daytime route operates hourly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., taking 40 minutes from Anyang Dongan District Office to Bisan Sports Park. The nighttime route operates hourly from midnight to 2 a.m., starting at Indeogwon Station on Line 4 and returning to Pyeongchon Station during a 70-minute ride.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]