Trial runs for the urban transport of the future

First autonomous production vehicle planned for 2030

The eBus is fitted with an intelligent Automated Driving System (ADS) from Mobileye, which uses sophisticated sensors. Nevertheless, a safety driver will always be on board for all tests. “In MINGA, we are developing the complex interface between the vehicle and the Automated Driving System,” says Jana Kirchen, Product Strategy Manager Automation at MAN Truck & Bus. “It is this development in particular that is a key element of the project and enables us to gather valuable experience for future automated vehicle applications.” Michael Roth, Head of Bus Product Strategy at MAN Truck & Bus, explains: “The MINGA research project is a significant step for us with regard to a proof-of-concept on the route – making it a real milestone. After successful completion of the project, we are leaving the concept phase behind and embarking on real field trials with customers. We are working on the assumption that we will be able to launch a self-driving production vehicle onto the market from 2030.”

The MINGA research project sees a total of around a dozen project partners from the worlds of government, research, business and industry working together. In six work packages, they are concentrating on areas including the integration of automated vehicles into the existing mobility ecosystem, on-demand services, automated scheduled bus line operation and the simulation of automated public transport. The mobility department for Munich, the state capital, is the head of the consortium and takes responsibility for the entire project, which is set to run until December 2025. It receives funding of around €13 million from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport within the framework of the “Autonomous and connected driving in public transport” funding guidelines.

An automated MAN electric bus travels the route, fitted with an Automated Driving System from TU Berlin, but still with a safety driver at the wheel. This “explainer bus” has been digitalised for this purpose and fitted with sensors and communications components. Screens have also been installed in the bus to show driving characteristics and technologies and to explain them to passengers. It should be hitting the streets by the end of 2023. “In the BeIntelli project, our focus is on the mechanics and thus on systems such as electric steering, a key technology for highly automated driving, and vehicle authorisation. We also want to primarily use this project to lay the foundations for the integration of ADS hardware and software into our vehicles,” explains Roth.