[ photo credits : ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH ]

Trials of self-driving vehicles have begun at Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) locations. The trials will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the trials will only test the autonomous vehicle’s (AV) ability to move equipment, with the AV operating at a reduced speed and during off-peak hours to enable users to become familiar with it. The second stage will take place in the second half of 2021 and will test the AV’s performance at peak hours and at higher speeds and its ability to carry passengers as well. The pilot will test the vehicle’s capabilities to minimise manpower requirements while improving user’s convenience with the aim of deploying them across SAF camps in the future.

Four fully electric vehicles are being evaluated at Kranji Camp III and Paya Lebar Air Base to transport resources and military personnel for at least a year. They will also provide scheduled services along pre-programmed routes as well as on-demand services with pre-determined stops through a mobile app. Passengers and equipment will be transported along a 5.5 km pre-determined route with 10 stops between Kranji Camp II and III.

The AVs are 4.7m-long, 2.3m-wide, and 3m-tall. It can carry up to nine seated passengers as well as a safety operator and has a maximum load capacity of 1,000 kg. The vehicles have a five-hour battery capacity, air conditioning, and a maximum speed of 18 km per hour. A safety operator will be on board at all times during the tests. Each AV features two emergency stop buttons, a collection of sensors that can identify nearby objects and has a global navigation satellite system. These AVs will also be tested for a three-year-period by the Republic of Singapore Air Force to evaluate an additional vehicle-to-infrastructure system at a few key intersections.