Level 4 driverless electric bus enters real-world service on 3.7-mile theme park route

Bursa-based Turkish automaker Karsan has announced that its e-ATAK autonomous all-electric minibus will now provide passenger service around the Efteling Theme Park in the Netherlands. This park, in case you are unaware, is a large fantasy and fairytale theme park in the Netherlands, roughly equivalent to a Dutch kind of Disneyland. It first opened in 1952 and is best known for its “Fairytale Forest,” which features scenes from stories like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Sleeping Beauty. The bus will run along a fixed 3.7-mile (6 km) route between the park’s main entrance, the Wonder Hotel area, and other stops along the way. This service is “free” for paying customers to the park, and also comes with wheelchair access. According to a press release, the service will be jointly managed by Karsan and Arriva. “We are extremely proud that Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK has become the first autonomous bus to operate on public roads in the North Brabant region of the Netherlands. Following our operation at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, this second autonomous deployment in the Netherlands further strengthens our position in Europe with another important reference project,” Karsan’s CEO Utku Ayyarkın said. Karsan’s e-ATAK to shuttle guests around park According to reports, the e-ATAK is described as “SAE Level 4” in terms of autonomy. This means the bus can drive itself without human control, but only on tightly controlled routes and environments. In this case, that likely translates to a specific mapped route, under approved traffic, weather, and speed conditions. It does not mean it could autonomously drive anywhere in the Netherlands like a human driver. According to reports, Karsan is providing the bus itself, with autonomous driving provided by ADASTEC, another Turkish company. At present, it is unclear whether a safety operator is required or whether the system is remotely monitored. Level 4 permits driverless operation within its designated conditions, but a deployment may still use onboard staff or remote supervision, especially during an early public trial. According to Karsan, this is the first autonomous bus service so far authorized on public roads in this region of the Netherlands. It is also the company’s second autonomous deployment in the country following The Hague Airport in Rotterdam. Will serve millions of guests every year The Efteling Theme Park receives millions of visitors a year, so this will be an interesting real-world demonstration for the technology. It is also a huge win for Karsan to receive official go-ahead from Dutch authorities. “The fact that Autonomous e-ATAK has been selected for Efteling, a globally recognized destination welcoming millions of visitors every year, is an important testament to the maturity of our technology and the confidence our partners place in Karsan. At Karsan, we do not simply anticipate the future of mobility; we make our advanced technology solutions part of everyday life,” he added. “Through autonomous projects implemented across different countries and use cases, we are turning the future of public transportation into reality today. We will continue to lead the wider adoption of autonomous public transportation, particularly across Europe and on a global scale,” Ayyarkın said.Service officially began on August 12, following an official launch on August 10. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.