Feasibility Analysis and Computer Simulation of an Automated Bus Route

Traffic congestion in major cities is a major problem which is growing steadily every year. It is clear that something must be done to curb this trend. Several different concepts are being investigated which can be used to minimize congestion and improve the traffic flow. Automation of the bus system represents one of those methods, and is the focus of this paper. Currently, public opinion of the quality of bus services is generally not perceived as adequate. Buses generally travel about 60% of the speed of other vehicles, and more often than not adherence to schedule is difficult to achieve. The consequence is that people choose to take personal transportation instead, causing increased congestion. Automation seeks to address this issue by offering decreased travel times, increased schedule adherence, and greater overall convenience compared to the current bus systems. The concept of automation is based on expanding upon the ideas of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and making the system as efficient as possible.