Friday, December 9th, 2005, 10:33 am
Computer-Guided Bus
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Manchester’s notoriously busy transport system
There are some big plans for the transport system in Manchester. Buses might become similar to trams, but will involve no driver or rails. Alas, after scraping of the long-anticipated tram extension, we shouldn’t get our hopes up.
It may sound like science fiction, but Stagecoach, which runs most of the buses in south Manchester’s, says the new service could be in place years before any Metrolink connections are built. The computer-guided buses would be manned by a driver but new ‘optical guidance’ technology means the bus would steer itself along a prescribed route and pull up flush to raised platforms.
This is particularly interesting to me because it happens at the very centre of where I live and work. Moreover, it is related to my research, which is focused on computer vision.
Old stories:
Related news: Google launch service offering public transport schedules
Also see: Assorted Manchester photography
