Olli bus is the electric and driverless 3D printed bus developed by Local Motors. It was unveiled in 2016 and covered by All3DP. Since then, it’s undergone a lot of testing and has received $1 billion in support.
Recently, Olli bus was demonstrated at Buffalo University’s North Campus in New York State. The demonstration was part of the Fourth Annual Symposium on Transportation Informatics. This conference focuses on next-generation transportation technologies and brings together big names in the industry.
Now, the Olli bus will be used by researchers at the university to test the benefits of autonomous and connected vehicles. They will use both Olli and other vehicles for these tests.
Interestingly, New York State is already a “hub” for autonomous vehicle research and supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy goal to reduce green house gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
The Olli project is also co-managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).
Regarding the project’s potential for the state’s future, Alicia Barton, President and CEO of NYSERDA, said: “The arrival of the Olli shuttle represents a significant milestone in advancing Governor Cuomo’s commitment to providing cleaner technologies to reduce harmful emissions from the state’s transportation sector. The Olli project serves as another example of the private public collaboration that is driving the expansion of our clean energy economy and innovative technologies.”
https://youtu.be/Ymz4SYVr_EE
More Testing Before Anyone Boards the Olli Bus
However, for now, students won’t be able to climb aboard. Instead, the researchers will be studying the bus to make decisions which will inform policy.
Specifically, the researches will tackle issues like transportation, reliability, and safety. They will also decide whether there are any benefits to using Olli for student transportation.
Truth be told, Olli boasts a pretty cool design as, it is largely 3D printed from recyclable materials, but also incorporates artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. It can seat up to eight passengers and take them on a ride which reaches speeds of 25mph.
Local Motors Executive Vice President Matthew Rivett praised the capability of 3D printing to enable sustainable transportation saying, “We are excited to partner with an institution as forward thinking as we are. University at Buffalo and the state of New York are as invested and determined in leading the way for a better future, better environment for the children of today and tomorrow. Local Motors continues to push the envelope by utilizing 3D printing and integrating new technologies to ensure we are providing the most capable, efficient and environmentally friendly products possible. The partnership with University at Buffalo is the first of our university partnerships and we are excited to see how Olli will enhance the lives of the students and faculty alike.”
The bus is already transporting commuters in Washington DC and Berlin, Germany. So, hopefully it won’t be too long before students at Buffalo University also can hitch a ride!
Source: University at Buffalo
License: The text of "Autonomous 3D Printed Olli Bus Undergoing Testing at University of Buffalo" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.