Minnesota Department of Transportation to begin autonomous bus testing

The 2103 Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is planning to test the use of an autonomous bus in a cold weather climate and is to issue a request for proposals seeking partners to help demonstrate the technology.

Testing will start with warm and cold weather testing at MnROAD, MnDOT’s test track facility near Albertville. MnROAD is used by researchers from around the world to test road building materials and designs.

After successful testing at MnROAD, a live test could be conducted the week of the 2018 Super Bowl, which is being hosted in Minnesota. Additional on-road tests may also be conducted at various locations around the state.

According to Jay Hietpas, MnDOT state traffic engineer and director of the agency’s office of safety and technology, Minnesota is the perfect state to test autonomous vehicles; it is a mass transit state and has cold and snowy weather.

“The low-speed 2.5 miles loop and high-speed 3.5 mile segment of MnROAD provide a safe and secure environment for testing autonomous vehicles in winter weather conditions,” Hietpas said.