LTA seeks ideas to harness self-driving vehicles technology

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) is seeking proposals on how technology allowing for self-driving vehicles can be harnessed as part of wider land transport planning.

These could include possibilities like mass-transport service that operates on fixed routes and scheduled timings, such as autonomous buses.

The technology could also allow for a network of demand-responsive cars to be used for travel within and between towns, which will reduce reliance on private cars.

The Request for Information (RFI) by LTA is part of the Singapore Autonomous Vehicle Initiative launched in August last year to manage research, test-bedding and development of applications relating to autonomous vehicles (AV) by various stakeholders.

"We are excited at the many possibilities of how AV technology can be harnessed. With the ability to self-drive, AVs have the potential to optimise road capacity by moving in a compact, systematic manner. They can also provide greater connectivity for first and last mile travel and facilitate the efficient sharing of vehicles," said LTA CEO Chew Men Leong.

"To bring these possibilities closer to reality, we want to create an open platform in one-north, where the industry, research institutions and the authorities can jointly conduct Proof-of-Concept (POC) trials, to provide the basis for future deployment in other sites."

LTA expects to conclude the RFI proposals by the third quarter of this year.

Eventually, shortlisted proposers will be given the approval to test their concepts at the AV testbed - consisting of a six-km long network of roads connecting Biopolis, Fusionpolis and Mediapolis - in one-north.