Driverless Bus: Ottawa Wants to Be Last

If you live in the U.K. you might be able to take a ride in this driverless electric and biofuel hybrid bus by then, hailing it to your location using your cell phone. We've heard of systems such as the Mobileye AWS that let you know if you're getting too close to the vehicle in front of you, but this 12-to-24-passenger pod goes without a driver at all, finding its way by following magnets embedded in the pavement.

Besides those magnet markers, these smart buses will use satellite navigation and onboard sensors to control their speed and direction. The optimistic purveyors of this technology expect a prototype next year and a commercially viable system by about 2010.

But 2010 is just when the serious trials will start, in enclosed areas such as Heathrow Airport. We might have to wait another 10 years before this technology is a reality. There's no word on who the brave souls will be to first test out this riderless horse, but we can only hope it's not running Windows Vista or XP.

Ottawa light-rail project relaxing.