PostBus and the city of Sion want to carry out tests with two autonomous shuttles as part of the Mobility Lab Sion-Valais. The two vehicles developed by the French company Navya are 100% electrically powered. If the test operation is approved by the relevant authorities, the two shuttles will transport up to nine people through the streets of the Valais capital at a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

Curving through Sion fully automatically
Although the "véhicules autonomes" are always accompanied by an instructed driver, they are fully automated and have neither a steering wheel nor brake and gas pedal pedals. If necessary, however, an emergency button is available to stop the vehicle. Using sensors, the vehicles will be able to ride with centimetre precision both during the day and at night and detect all obstacles and signals on the road. A program from the Swiss start-up BestMile monitors and controls the two autonomous vehicles.

First test phase without passengers
The introduction of these shuttle vehicles, which are 4.80 meters long and 2.05 meters wide, will take place in two phases. In the first phase, from December 2015 to around spring 2016, the vehicles will be tested by specialists in a cordoned-off private area. If the relevant authorities approve the pilot test, the autonomous shuttles will operate in public spaces and transport people in the second phase. An area covering the pedestrian zone and the pedestrian zone of the old town of Sion and the tourist center of the city as well as the Tourbillon and Valère castles is planned for this (see map). If the tests in this area are successful, the use of the vehicles on other routes in the city of Sion is also conceivable.

Special permits required
The legal provisions for the use of autonomous vehicles on public roads have not yet been finalized. Special permits are therefore required from the authorities in order to carry out the pilot test in the city of Sion. PostBus is working closely with the vehicle manufacturer and the relevant authorities at federal, cantonal and municipal level in this regard. It is not yet possible to estimate whether and when the permits can be issued. Parallel to the pilot test in Sion, the EPF Lausanne is working on integrating a fleet of autonomous shuttles into the public transport system. The experience gained in Lausanne should help to further develop the algorithms required for the shuttles to ride autonomously.

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