The project represents the largest deployment of autonomous microtransit vehicles into a mixed traffic environment anywhere in the United States. The autonomous shuttle combines the benefits of public transit with the convenience of an on-demand operation. Vehicles are electric and have the computational abilities to observe, interpret data and react to complex environments using a sensors that include radar, lidar, ultrasonic sensors, global navigation satellite systems, and optical cameras. Vehicles communicate using a combination of dedicated radio, cellular and dedicated short range communications.

In June and July, 2018, the City of Lincoln successfully tested a demand-responsive autonomous microtransit vehicle that operated in the University of Nebraska's Innovation Campus. As a result of that test project, the City will embark on one of the largest deployments of autonomous microtransit vehicles into a mixed traffic environment anywhere in the United States. The goal for year one is to develop the required infrastructure needed for deployment along a fixed-route in downtown Lincoln, and to operationally deploy five vehicles. Three more shuttles will be added to the fleet in year two and the route will expand to cover a larger footprint. By year three, ten shuttles will fully cover the downtown area and even expand south into an existing neighborhood.

City of Lincoln, Nebraska - municipal government leading the project and public transit agency.
Bloomberg Philanthropies - grant provider in the amount of $100,000 to complete a test and prototype of the technology.
Allo/Nelnet - broadband network provider.
University of Nebraska - flagship university research partner.
University of Nebraska Innovation Campus - test host.
Navya - autonomous vehicle vendor.
HDR - technical consultant.
Downtown Lincoln Association - civic partner.

The testing of the shuttle has been highly successful in terms of operations, community acceptance, excitement and national visibility. Stakeholder groups and the general public were offered free shuttle rides over several weeks as an opportunity to interact firsthand with the technology. Project administrators measured the attitudes of people before and after the rides, which reflected overwhelming support for the technology.

The testing of the shuttle has been highly successful in terms of operations, community acceptance, excitement and national visibility. Stakeholder groups and the general public were offered free shuttle rides over several weeks as an opportunity to interact firsthand with the technology. Project administrators measured the attitudes of people before and after the rides, which reflected overwhelming support for the technology.

With that said, moving from a testing environment into a full deployment environment will come with many challenges. We are in the process of raising additional funds needed to fully support the project. In addition, our primary responsibility is the safe deployment of the technology into a mixed traffic environment. We expect the program to be wildly popular once it is fully funded and fully and safely operational.

Typical challenges emerged as a result of this trial period. We learned a great deal about the operational capability of the autonomous shuttle. Because this electric vehicle was operating during very hot days, the air conditioner was draining the vehicle's battery which had to be charged more frequently than we anticipated. This resulted in a adjusted ride schedules for people. We also learned about the regulatory environment associated with autonomous vehicle technology. In seeking a waiver from the federal government to operate the vehicle, we learned that we could not secure a waiver in time to operate directly on a public roadway. For the testing phase and to offer public rides, we utilized a private roadway and parking area in the University of Nebraska Innovation Campus, which turned out to be extremely accommodating and successful. However, we have learned a great deal from these minor setbacks and adjusted our approach accordingly.

The biggest condition required for any innovation to succeed is a healthy tolerance for risk-taking, and possibly failure. Because there are only two outcomes for trying something new - - success or failure. If we want innovation, we must embrace failure as a natural outcome. And that is really hard to do; especially in government. In Lincoln, Nebraska however, we know that failure is not a waste but a tool. It’s a lesson that can shape us and lead to our future success. And it is this healthy and pragmatic relationship with failure that creates an environment where innovation is possible, where testing Autonomous Vehicle Technology is even conceivable.

We strongly believe this program can be replicated around the world offering safe, efficient, affordable and equitable access to many people well into the future. While the City will embark on one of the largest deployments of autonomous microtransit vehicles into a mixed traffic environment anywhere in the United States, autonomous shuttles have been deployed in other cities including, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Austin.

The pilot project taught us that our community is well-positioned and ready to embrace this technology. It was profoundly popular to people particularly our aging population and youth.