AuToMove, an autonomously driven electric shuttle capable of transporting up to eight passengers at a time, has officially launched in Turin. The vehicle is part of the Living Lab ToMove project, designed to experiment with new sustainable and technologically advanced mobility solutions.
GTT, Ohmio and the University of Turin are behind the initiative, with the support of the Municipality. The aim is not only to show a futuristic prototype, but to concretely test how an autonomous minibus can integrate into city traffic without emissions and with reduced consumption.
Free rides, booking via app and an operator on board
The service is free, but you need to book the ride via the Wetaxi app. The route is a circular route and approximately 3 kilometers long, with five stops between Corso Tortona, Corso Regina Margherita and Lungo Dora Siena, up to the Luigi Einaudi Campus.
The trips operate on weekdays from 11:00 to 16:30. There is always a safety driver on board, a GTT operator who monitors the system and can intervene in case of problems. The shuttle also has a manual station to return to traditional driving if necessary.
No scenarios from science fiction films: the project serves to understand if and how such technology can really work on public roads, in the midst of real traffic.
V2X technology and advanced autonomy
AutoMove operates with an SAE 4 autonomy level, which allows it to independently manage almost all driving phases, while still maintaining human supervision.
Thanks to V2X (Vehicle to Everything) technology, the minibus communicates with traffic lights and the urban infrastructure: it regulates the speed, stops when necessary and restarts safely. It is a real experiment of what, in the coming years, could become a stable part of city mobility.
The Living Lab ToMove project does not promise immediate revolutions, but tries to test practical solutions for electric and autonomous mobility. Turin, which has long been committed to this front, confirms itself as one of the most active Italian cities in experimenting with innovative transport systems.
For now it remains a test, open to the public and completely free, but the data collected will help to understand if this technology is really ready to enter the daily lives of citizens.
To book your trip and find out more about the project, you can download the Wetaxi app for free and select the service. For more info on the project: https://torinocitylab.it/to-move/
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