The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Citybus are collaborating on development of autonomous driving and Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. The two organisations will conduct live road tests on the Hong Kong Science Park to University MTR Station route and within the Kai Tak Development Area. These projects aim to establish a cost-effective smart mobility solution to support advances in Hong Kong’s public transportation system.

The first collaboration between the two organisations aims to establish a new model for transportation in Hong Kong.

Citybus will support two ASTRI projects that have already secured funding approval from the HKSAR Government’s Smart Traffic Fund. The company will also engage with ASTRI to explore further intelligent mobility projects that can drive the digitalisation of public transportation operations and the broader application of artificial intelligence.

The Dedicated Line Connected Autonomous Bus is a 19-seat ‘connected’ autonomous bus that will run between the Hong Kong Science Park and University MTR Station. The trial aims to assess the viability of connected autonomous buses in a complex public road environment, encompassing roundabouts and public transport interchanges. It is anticipated that the trial run will encompass and cover pre-registered passengers during 2025, with Citybus providing operational know-how and support.

Beginning September 2024, the Smart Roadside Infrastructure Public Transport Support will explore C-V2X technology applications in public bus services within the Kai Tak Development Area. Currently, Citybus is the primary bus operator and operates multiple public bus routes within the district, traversing to and from the Kai Tak runway area. For the first time ever, ASTRI will interface with Citybus’s on-bus systems and install C-V2X equipment on Citybus’s double-deckers, to connect with the smart roadside units located within the area. This connectivity will provide real-time road conditions and traffic light information, offering real-time alerts to bus captains to further enhance driving safety and operational efficiency.

Both projects are expected to yield valuable R&D data to enhance the precision and reliability of the C-V2X system and wider autonomous bus technologies across various real-life scenarios.

Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI, said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s progression towards smarter, safer, and more efficient public transportation. By merging ASTRI’s technological prowess with Citybus’s operation experience, we’re poised to create intelligent solutions for smart mobility that could be emulated globally.”

Mr Richard Hall, Managing Director of Citybus, said: “Following the launch of our groundbreaking hydrogen and electric buses, as well as the implementation of a smart driving system across our entire fleet to improve safety and the customer experience, we are really pleased to collaborate with ASTRI to integrate their pioneering technology into our bus-operations. We firmly believe that through this collaboration, we are not just exploring but also setting the future path for bus services in Hong Kong to be enhanced even further, contributing to the ongoing development of Hong Kong as a smart city with new technologies and expertise that can be exported internationally.”