Trial run for driverless car on internal roads at Expo 2020 site

The electric powered vehicle can run at 25kph for up to 16 hours

A visual display on how Dubai will become 25 per cent driverless at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport in October 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A driverless vehicle is transporting passengers at the Expo 2020 Dubai South site.

The trial run for the autonomous vehicle on a demarcated path from the main entrance to the Expo offices is being handled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The electric powered vehicle can run for up to 16 hours at the speed of 25kph.

It can accommodates 15 riders of which 10 can be seated.

“The trial run, which will last for three months, includes testing autonomous technologies, ensuring high safety of individuals, and protecting surrounding properties,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, chief executive of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency.

He described the project as an achievement that builds on the transport authority’s efforts to increase the reach and spread of self-driving cars in various places in Dubai.

The trial run is part of the RTA’s strategy to transform 25 per cent of journeys in the emirate into self-driving modes of transport by 2030.

“We are proud that the site of Expo 2020 has become a venue for the implementation of the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, with the deployment of a test run of an autonomous vehicle at the site," said Mohamed Al Ansaari, vice president communications, Expo 2020 Dubai.

“This strategy is compatible with our sustainability vision to enhance the use of environmentally-friendly vehicles with low-carbon emissions.”

He said the ultimate goal is to raise the profile of the UAE as a leader in sustainability and environmental conservation.

The vehicle is designed to travel on internal roads within communities.

Sensors and high accuracy positioning systems help it monitor the path and maintain safety.

The vehicle is able to scan the surroundings and will come to a complete halt when an object comes too close.