Adelaide’s first driverless shuttle will get to work this week

A DRIVERLESS electric shuttle set for operation on South Australian roads this week has been officially unveiled at Flinders University.

A DRIVERLESS electric shuttle set to begin operation on South Australian roads this week has been officially unveiled at Flinders University.

The Flinders Express, or FLEX, will initially operate between the university and a nearby train station, before expanding its route within a year.

Flinders University chancellor Stephen Gerlach and Transport Minister Stephan Knoll unveiling the shuttle. (Picture: AAP/David Mariuz)

“I’m sure there will be technical leanings from the trial, but as importantly, if not more importantly, what we’re hoping is for some community acceptance to come out of the trial,” Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said at the launch on Tuesday.

Within a year, the shuttle will run to the Flinders Medical Centre and the University’s Bedford Park campus before using main arterial roads around the entire Bedford Park precinct.

The first autonomous vehicle trial on a public road anywhere in Australia. No inflatable kangaroos were harmed as a result of the trial. A great example of lower regulation supporting innovation! pic.twitter.com/NTm7kHxVP0

— Stephan Knoll (@stephanknoll) June 19, 2018

Small-scale transport of the emerging electric form of transport is an ideal way to familiarise people to new technology, the university’s head of civil engineering professor Rocco Zito said.

“Our aim is not to prove the technology but rather expose the public to this new type of transport service and learn from their responses and reactions to help driverless vehicles gain general acceptance,” he said.