Mercedes Benz Semi-Autonomous Future Bus: Amsterdam Freeway To Experience 1st Ever CityPilot System

Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus was sent on a 12-mile route through the streets of Amsterdam. It has become proof that the Mercedes-Benz semi-autonomy is not just for cars, but for buses too.

The Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus can do more than just driving. It can also arrive at bus stops, pass through tunnels, communicate accurately with traffic signals and hit the brake for obstacles and pedestrians. Additionally, in the lounge area of the Mercedes Benz Future Bus, riders can wirelessly charge their phones through inductive charging pads and check information on large displays, Tech Crunch reported.

Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus uses Mercedes' latest autonomous driving system called CityPilot that functions like the Mercedes' HighwayPilot, the feature that allows the company's semi trucks to drive more safely and efficiently down the freeways. CityPilot enables Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus to drive in a semi-autonomous manner up to 43 mph in specially marked bus lanes. However, this should be achieved by the Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus with a human driver on-board to monitor safety.

The German automaker, however, does not intend to send the Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus' CityPilot system into production in its complete form, while they aim to send the HighwayPilot into production vehicles by 2020. The company said that they will only implement portions of the system into its city buses.

Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus does more than show some production-intended technology. It also proves how Mercedes envisions a more comfortable and tech-heavy public transportation of the future, Mashable reported.

The Mercedes Benz semi-autonomous future bus is the latest creation of the automobile manufacturing company. The announcement that a semi-autonomous bus will travel the streets of Amsterdam was made on July 18, Monday. The company did more than just unveiling the futuristic vehicle, but they showed the people of Amsterdam that the first city bus can drive autonomously.