www.auto-innovations.net
02
'26
Written on Modified on
Autonomous Electric Bus Deployment in Urban Traffic
MAN Truck and Bus and ADASTEC have deployed an automated MAN Lion City 12 E on Munich route 178.
www.man.eu
Urban transit operators face driver shortages and operational constraints in mixed city traffic. As part of the federally funded MINGA research project, MAN Truck & Bus, software developer ADASTEC, Stadtwerke München (SWM), and Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) are integrating automated driving architecture into public transport networks.
Technical Architecture and Sensor Integration
Automating a full-size 12-meter bus requires real-time situational awareness and fault-tolerant actuator control. The system utilizes five LiDAR sensors, six radar units, eight cameras, and a satellite-based positioning system.
ADASTEC integrates the automated driving platform to process environmental data and map critical road parameters, including traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and lane boundaries. The system matches real-time perception against a high-resolution digital map (HD map), executing independent steering, acceleration, braking, and signaling commands.
Testing, Validation, and Regulatory Approval
Before operating on public roads, the vehicle completed electromagnetic compatibility evaluations and scenario validation at the MAN facility. Regulatory approval required technical inspections by TÜV and an official operating permit issued by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) in accordance with the German Autonomous Vehicles Approval and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV).
Route 178 covers arterial roads, 30-km/h zones, parking zones, and underpasses to test localization consistency across varied urban profiles.
Project Execution and Operational Impact
The operational workflow uses structured testing phases to advance toward full service:
- Digital Mapping: Sensor data acquisition across the route corridor to generate HD maps for localized positioning.
- Supervised Integration: Public road driving with safety drivers on board to monitor automated controls and execute immediate manual overrides when required.
- Closed User Group Testing: Passenger transport trials with selected users in an active service simulation, utilizing a 30-seat vehicle layout with dedicated mobility space.
Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, stated that tests have left the controlled environment of factory grounds to bring the system into real city traffic.
Marc Raudszus, Technical Coordinator and test driver at MAN, explained that autonomous driving requires a high-resolution and extremely precise map of the route. Raudszus emphasized that the safety driver on board must be able to intervene at any time in the event of a potential system failure.
The technical insights gathered from this deployment support the engineering of series-production autonomous transit systems, providing transit authorities with verifiable data on operational safety, energy consumption, and infrastructure integration.
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.man.eu
Marc Raudszus, Technical Coordinator and test driver at MAN, explained that autonomous driving requires a high-resolution and extremely precise map of the route. Raudszus emphasized that the safety driver on board must be able to intervene at any time in the event of a potential system failure.
The technical insights gathered from this deployment support the engineering of series-production autonomous transit systems, providing transit authorities with verifiable data on operational safety, energy consumption, and infrastructure integration.
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.man.eu
