Orlando Launches Autonomous Shuttle Pilot with Beep

The City of Orlando has launched a six-month autonomous shuttle pilot in collaboration with Beep and the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX).

The pilot project, named Shuttling with Autonomous Navigation (SWAN), will be used as a blueprint for guiding the city’s transportation strategy on how electric, autonomous and shared-mobility solutions aid accessibility and sustainability in a city.

“With the expansion of autonomous vehicle shuttles into our neighborhoods, we can converge cutting-edge technology with new mobility solutions to further redefine the way our community moves,” said Buddy Dyer, mayor of Orlando. “The SWAN shuttle builds on our diverse network of mobility options and furthers our commitment to our residents, our environment and our future.”

The project begins on August 20, operating a one-mile route connecting LYNX Central Station and SunRail to UCF/Valencia Downtown, Luminary Green Park, Electronic Arts (EA) and Parramore and Creative Village.

“We move thousands of customers each and every day,” said Tiffany Homler Hawkins, LYNX CEO. “This partnership is an innovative way to test technology and understand how it will benefit our riders in a real-time setting that we believe will benefit the community for years to come.”

Related:Beep’s Self-Driving Shuttles Hit the West Coast

Beep’s national command center in Lake Nona will provide monitoring and control of the SWAN Shuttle service, alongside its other project sites across the U.S. Orlando is not the first city to receive Beep’s autonomous shuttle, with the service having rolled out in Atlanta, California and Altamonte Springs in Florida earlier this year.

“We are proud to be part of a forward-thinking and innovative community committed to the investment in technology that will improve the quality of life for its residents and the livability of our city,” said Joe Moye, Beep CEO. “Our partnership with the City of Orlando and LYNX provides the collaboration necessary to ensure autonomous vehicles are tested safely so that we can incorporate community feedback and prepare for the coming era of autonomous electric transportation, which will improve road safety, decrease carbon emissions and extend mobility to everyone.”