Unmanned Systems Technology 007 | UMEX 2016 report | Navya ARMA | Launch & recovery systems | AIE 225CS | AUVs | Electric motors | Lethal autonomous weapons

34 Displays There are two types of display in the ARMA platform. An internal touchscreen display shows the map of the route and the stops, and allows users to select a stop on the route. The other type is a large LCD display mounted in the windows at the front and back facing outwards to display external messages. These can be about the route, or messages to pedestrians or other road users, and can be updated from the supervision centre for example to ask pedestrians to move out of the path of the vehicle. Manufacturing A key issue with the ARMA is the weight, as this determines how fast it can travel and for how long before recharging. It was originally designed to weigh 1800 kg, but increasing the battery pack from 16 kWh to 33 kWh has increased that by 140 kg, and the overall weight is between 2100 and 2300 kg depending on the equipment in the vehicle. The steel chassis with the battery drawer and the electric motor is the base, with the steel tubing and fibreglass cover providing different shapes for the body of the vehicle. This is deliberate, April/May 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Bordeaux, France The first major outing for the ARMA platform was the ITS Exhibition in Bordeaux in October 2015, which also marked one of the first uses of a Level 5 autonomous vehicle in a public setting. This was a key demonstration for Navya, which had spent many months gaining approval for the prototype system to be used on the open road. In the demonstration, three ARMAs transported attendees 1.5 km from the exhibition centre to the conference centre on public roads at up to 25 kph. Sion, Switzerland In a two-year project that started in December 2015, PostBus Switzerland is working with the city of Sion, in the Swiss canton of Valais, and the ETH Lausanne to test two ARMA vehicles in public areas to transport passengers. PostBus is carrying out tests to find out whether the vehicles can provide new types of mobility in regions that cannot currently be serviced by public transport. Initially PostBus and the city of Sion are testing the systems at the PostBus Mobility Lab in Sion-Valais on a private circuit and, if approved, the two shuttles will be able to transport up to nine people through the city’s streets. The operation is restricted, with a maximum speed of 20 kph, and specially trained staff on board have access to an emergency stop button if needed. The vehicles will be used in the pedestrian zone and shared space in Sion’s old town and in the city’s tourist centre; the area leading to the Tourbillon and Valère castles have also been designated for the tests. If the tests are successful, the vehicles may be introduced on other routes in the city. Software developed by Swiss start-up BestMile monitors the two autonomous vehicles. The key requirement is that the shuttles be operated in real time and take into account passengers’ needs such as flexible timetables, on-demand routes, door-to-door services and so on. Once the necessary algorithms have been developed by the ETH Lausanne they will be used to improve BestMile’s fleet management programme. Generally speaking, the algorithms will also help to find solutions for logistics and public transport management. The pilot project implemented in Sion’s public areas could also be used to further develop the ETH Lausanne’s algorithms.  Lyon, France A public trial of the ARMA system is planned for Lyon, Navya’s home town, in June 2016, with a number of vehicles running several kilometres along a segment of the pedestrianised riverbank of the Rhône. The exact route and whether the supervision centre will be used have yet to be determined. Australia The ARMA platform is being used in a staged trial in Western Australia with the country’s RAC motoring organisation. Details of the trial, which is likely to involve a number of stages, are currently in development, and the RAC is working through the necessary approval processes with the government. Trials The raw data from each time the route is followed is stored on the vehicle and downloaded when it has a wi-fi connection, when charging usually