The shuttle will spend three months at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
DURHAM, N.C., April 20, 20201 – TransLoc, leader in cutting-edge transportation technology solutions and a Ford Mobility company*, announced it is working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to provide real-time tracking software to power the first self-driving vehicle to be tested at a recreational public lands site in the nation.
Originally introduced at the 2020 Transportation Summit in Raleigh and then piloted at North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus last spring, where TransLoc also provided real-time tracking software, the Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation, or CASSI, was launched today at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, also the site of the world’s first powered flight.
“It is fitting to have this historic location that has changed the face of transportation usher in the era of autonomous vehicles,” said TransLoc CEO Brett Wheatley. “TransLoc is honored to have our state-of-the-art technology power NCDOT’s CASSI vehicle as we deliver on our mission to make mobility efficient and accessible for all.”
As part of an effort to help the National Park Service and NCDOT learn more about how autonomous vehicles can be safely and effectively used in the future, the CASSI will be tested at the Wright Brothers National Memorial for three months.
“This is a huge day for transportation,” Eric Boyette, the state’s Transportation Secretary, said during Tuesday’s launch at the memorial. “We’ve come such a long way since the Wright Brothers made their first historic flight here more than a century ago. Just like that milestone, we think the CASSI represents the start of another revolution for transportation.”
While autonomous vehicles use state-of-the-art technology to operate without a driver, the CASSI will utilize a trained customer service operator in the vehicle, who will monitor conditions and be able to manually stop the vehicle at any time to ensure the safety of passengers. The vehicle uses radar, LiDAR and GPS to navigate its route, while TransLoc provides real-time tracking software and a map that will keep riders updated on CASSI’s location on NCDOT’s website.
Rides on the CASSI are free, but due to COVID-19 the number of passengers is limited to ensure proper social-distancing guidelines are met. The vehicle operates at speeds between 8 and 12 mph.
More information can be found on NCDOT’s website and the National Park Service’s Wright Brothers National Memorial website.
About TransLoc
TransLoc delivers a one-stop-shop for transit providers seeking transit orchestration solutions. Recognized by Fast Company for its innovative technology, today TransLoc’s intelligent transportation software portfolio includes flexible demand response, fixed route systems, and planning services, providing software and services for more than 1500 transit locations worldwide. Powering more than 600 million annual rides, TransLoc’s fixed route and on-demand systems are at the core of both cities and towns, and on university and business campuses. TransLoc has collectively partnered with agencies to deliver the highest level of service and win the confidence of the riding public for more than a decade.
Contact:
SHIFT Communications for TransLoc
Lori Niquette
TransLoc@shiftcomm.com
617-779-1800
*On March 1, 2022, global technology company Modaxo acquired TransLoc from Ford Motor Company. TransLoc is no longer affiliated with Ford or any Ford properties.