Autonomous Mobility: innovating to support citizens and communities

In response to accelerating urban growth and increasing travelling requirements, Keolis operates innovative, high-performance and environmentally friendly autonomous mobility solutions. Deployed by Keolis in France and around the world, autonomous vehicles provide passengers and public transport authorities with an efficient, safe and appropriate response to present and future mobility needs.

Keolis, a pioneer in autonomous mobility – since 2016

As a global leader in shared mobility and multi-modality, Keolis has been trialling autonomous shuttles and vehicles open to the general public since 2016. With these deployments in France, the United States, Australia, Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Sweden, the Group has fostered a reputation as an expert in the operation of autonomous vehicles for passenger transport. Whether small-capacity shuttles or buses, autonomous vehicles travel without a driver on pre-determined routes, in dedicated or shared lanes. Whereas up to now a safety operator has been on board the vehicle, Keolis' ambition is to develop 100% autonomous driving without an operator in attendance (Grade of autonomy 4, often referred to as "No Op").

Developing shared mobility with autonomous options

Built into existing transport networks, self-driving vehicles offer an effective solution to the mobility challenges facing every community, whether urban or suburban. These services are arranged and adjusted through continuous dialogue with public transport authorities, and offer a way of providing transport to less densely occupied areas, or to complete the first and last mile of a journey. They are particularly well suited to trips in urban settings, in airports, on university campuses, on business parks, in hospitals or at tourist destinations.

Autonomous vehicles travelling in total safety

With eight years of operating autonomous mobility services and trials around the world, Keolis has developed comprehensive expertise in the entire lifecycle of autonomous bus and shuttle projects.

The Group guarantees safe journeys and keeps passengers informed. The vehicles combine several navigation and control systems, configured according to the characteristics of the journey: cameras to analyse obstacles, laser remote sensing (LIDAR) to represent the environment in 3D, satellite GPS navigation system, motion sensors, emergency stop button, intercom for communication with the supervisor, secure communication with the connected infrastructure, etc. Depending on the level of autonomy of the vehicle, a safety operator is constantly present: either on board the vehicle (grade of autonomy 3) to be able to resume driving in manual mode if necessary, or remotely (grade of autonomy 4) from a control station enabling them to regulate and supervise the vehicle at all times, and communicate with the passengers.

Remotely supervising autonomous buses with 5G

Keolis is studying new solutions such as the use of 5G to further improve the safety of autonomous vehicles. This technology enables video supervision or remote assistance in real time, with a level of safety and reliability that cannot be matched by 4G.

This innovation was tested in Sweden in 2022, in partnership with Ericsson and Telia, as part of a pilot project on the island of Djurgården with an autonomous electric SUV. 5G connectivity made it possible to validate a request to overtake that had been issued automatically by the vehicle - a first in terms of remote assistance.

Offering a premier user experience

The Keolis Group takes a close interest in the quality of the user experience and the impact of unattended vehicles on the acceptability of travel in an autonomous vehicle. For example, studies have helped improve customer care and provide more relevant passenger information on board the autonomous shuttles currently in use at the Autonomous Mobility Test Site (SEMA) in Châteauroux.

With the development of autonomous mobility, Keolis asserts its commitment to green mobility in the community, alongside public transport authorities. As an alternative to individual vehicles on short journeys, using autonomous vehicles contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, when operating in on-demand mode, autonomous vehicles only fulfil a specific request for mobility, which limits unladen mileage and optimises journeys by grouping trips together. Electric shuttles epitomise the future of public transport, in a reinvented city that is calmer, less congested and more sustainable.

Since the world's very first autonomous shuttle trial in Lyon's Confluence district in 2016, Keolis has deployed over 55 publicly accessible autonomous mobility services in association with public transport authorities. With shuttles launched in Rennes and Lyon (France) and Newcastle (Australia) and the presentation of an autonomous bus in Gothenburg (Sweden), the Group is now seen as an expert in the operation and supervision of fleets of autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles can be integrated into existing transport networks, encouraging shared mobility. Multimodality can be facilitated by adapting passenger information and introducing combined fare structures.