Perrone Robotics (PRI) has concluded a three-month trial period of free public demonstration rides on the AVNU (Autonomous Vehicle, Neighbourhood Use) shuttle in partnership with Albermarle County.
AVNU drove fully autonomously (with a safety monitor) on public roads within Crozet, navigating vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic through intersections and roundabouts.
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AVNU is based on a Polaris GEM e6 vehicle retrofitted with PRI’s TONY (TO Navigate You) autonomous transit kit available to be applied to a wide range of transit vehicles.
“Through our partnership with the County, we were able to demonstrate autonomous transport to enhance the mobility and utility of riders is viable now in a typical American community,” said Perrone Robotics, CEO and founder, Paul Perrone.
“We have automated over 29 different types of vehicles and operated them for over 33,500 autonomous miles over the past 16 years in the US and UK.”
The shuttles travelled on public roads with pedestrian, cyclist, and car/truck/bus traffic at varying times of the day. AVNU was first tested by Perrone Robotics in simulation, then on the company’s test track and finally on public roads.
PRI and the County will identify new trial areas, evaluate retrofitting larger transit vehicles and seek to increase the number of operational units.
