Autonomous shuttle rides for Christchurch public to park the fear factor

Sunday, 16 February 2020

The Ohmio Lift shuttle moves slowly through the Botanic Gardens.

Driverless vehicles have been unleased in central Christchurch – with supervision.

The market for autonomous vehicles is set to grow exponentially in coming years as competing companies rush to refine the technology and prove to the general public the vehicles are safe for on-road use.

On Saturday and Sunday, Christchurch residents got a chance to try an autonomous shuttle owned by Christchurch Airport during test rides at the Botanic Gardens.

There were supervisors on-board and along the short route as the shuttle trundled slowly through the gardens.

Ohmio community engagement manager Kate Matthews supervises one of the autonomous rides.

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The airport bought the 15-person New Zealand-built Ohmio Automation Lift shuttle last year as part of an ongoing autonomous vehicle trial. It has invited members of the public to ride the shuttle before, but the vehicle has mostly been tested on private roads around the airport.

Christchurch Airport held the first demonstration of its newly-arrived fully autonomous electric vehicle, the first to be trialled in New Zealand.

Christchurch Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns said the shuttle was autonomous, electric and 3D printed.

'We believe the potential benefits of autonomous shuttles are exciting and are pleased to be able put the Smart Shuttle in the centre of the city to continue our learning about people's interactions with an autonomous vehicle,' he said in a statement before the public outing.

In a video on the company's website, Ohmio and HMI chief executive Dean Zabrieszach said without trying it people could be 'scared off' by the idea of a vehicle without a steering wheel.

'But what we've found is that once people can actually feel it, touch it, have a ride in it, experience it, the feeling changes completely.'

Christchurch City Council has supported development of the driverless shuttle by giving Ohmio a grant of $50,000 from its Innovation and Sustainability Fund.