The enriched data from Mapscape is then delivered to EB’s electronic horizon solution, which generates highly precise positioning information in accordance with the open ADASIS v2 specification with a range of enhancements, such as lateral offset from the road center line.

This electronic horizon data is continuously updated as the vehicle is driving autonomously. It is then interpreted by EB’s ADASIS v2 Reconstructor software module into information usable by the shuttle’s ECUs, enabling the driverless vehicle to prepare for and respond to real-world situations.

In case of emergency, passengers can directly contact the WEpod control room from within the shuttle, which continuously monitors vehicle safety. Shuttle attendants will also be on board to assist passengers during the test phase.

The six-seater, handicap-accessible buses without steering wheel or pedals will be the first completely autonomous vehicles to drive on public roads. Unlike their driverless predecessors, like the Rotterdam Rivium Park and Heathrow shuttles, which require magnets, rails or special lanes, WEpods will maneuver through normal traffic using a complex set of sensors, cameras, radars, lasers and controls, designed to monitor and both quickly and reliably respond to changes in environment or traffic conditions.

There are currently two WEpods in service in the Dutch province of Gelderland, running between the towns of Wageningen and Ede, though plans for expansion are in place. With a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph)—25 km/h (15.5 mph) during the test phase—the fully electrical WEpods have a range of approximately 100 km (62 miles) per charge.

Initially, WEpods will run a predetermined bus route exclusively on the Wageningen University campus. After the test phase is complete in May 2016, a taxi mode will take effect, where passengers will be able to request a WEpod via smartphone app, and the shuttles will independently create their own itineraries. The Gelderland province hopes to set an example for other cities in its move toward more flexible and sustainable mobility.

Based in the Netherlands, WEpods is a community project in cooperation with the Dutch province of Gelderland and students from the Wageningen University & Research Centre and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The WEpods project was first introduced to the public on 28 January 2016.