The future is coming

MAZ works on the first self-driving electric bus

The global transport system is not yet able to manage without human supervision. However, the robotic automation of transport is the main global trend in recent years and public transport is developing especially rapidly in this direction. Belarus understands that public transport moves along pre-built routes, and therefore it is most convenient to introduce robot technology in this field. Electric trains with the self-driving feature are already running on the third metro line, and the first autopilot electric bus was tested in the China-Belarus Great Stone Industrial Park near Minsk. MAZ intends to contribute to the development of self-driving passenger transport, which plans to actively use already well-known bus models in the production of self-driving shuttles. The task is not just to launch a production, but to make it with a high level of localisation in Belarus in order to construct as much equipment as possible on those units that are produced in our country.

In automatic mode

A vehicle equipped with radars, laser sensors, video cameras, high-precision positioning and communication systems, all kinds of on-board computers, which do not require human supervision, may become a reality in the near future. For several years now, the largest automakers together with IT developers, including those in Belarus, have been creating vehicles with the possibility of full autopilot driving. It is in this promising direction that a young team of MAZ designers and technologists is currently working. A site has been allocated at the plant to accommodate structural units for the development and manufacture of a new type of product — electric transport. In the near future, brand new electric buses and cargo electric vehicles will appear there, and, later, self-driving vehicles too.


“The main focus of the new structure is made on the development of electric transport in Belarus”, greets us the Chief Designer Andrey Savchits, Head of the Department of the Chief Designer of Automated Systems, Telematics, and Mechatronics at MAZ. “It is necessary to electrify transport in large cities — primarily Minsk and regional centres, because the number of cars is growing, and the environment is suffering.” 
Developers have the necessary space and opportunity to implement bold ideas like a self-driving vehicle model. According to Andrey Savchits, all the required technical solutions for this have been already created, “Now we are deciding on the type of vehicle for self-driving model on its basis and proceed to the implementation of the project. Brestmash, the enterprise of our BelavtoMAZ holding, assembles minibuses from vehicle sets. It is possible that self-driving vehicles will be implemented on the basis of such a van. In fact, a minibus, bus, or truck — I guess it’s not that big a deal. The technical solutions for self-driving vehicles are the same. Now we are just gaining experience. After updating the legislative framework for the admission of self-driving vehicles to public roads, we will be ready to produce such vehicles with the required degree of autonomy within six months.”
It is expected that the first self-driving electric bus will appear on the roads as early as next year. The new technology is absolutely safe, but at the first stage, it will work under the supervision of the operator.

New frontiers

Specialists assemble an electric bus in one of the workshops. Literally, in front of us, the car is equipped with iron parts so that it looks more and more like models riding around the city. This production is a closed-loop cycle. The skeleton is made according to the drawings, then spot-facing and painting are performed, and finally, the electrical equipment is installed.
 Andrey Savchits said about the design features of the self-driving vehicle, “We take a classic MAZ truck and remove the cab from it. We install cameras, lidars, and radars — the eyes of a car, a communication system, a computer with a basic level of artificial intelligence, and blind-spot sensors. With their help, self-driving vehicles recognise the world around them, for example, traffic lights, road signs and markings, cars and people, measure the size of surrounding objects, their speed, and distance to them. Separately, we have already tested almost all of these elements as supporting systems on cars with drivers. I think that within three to five years, self-driving vehicles would become commonplace on the roads. An excellent start for large-scale testing of self-driving buses could be the territory of the National Airport. Shuttles can take passengers to the ramp and back to the terminal. Another attractive place for testing unmanned vehicles may be the organisation of centralised tours of the Botanical Garden. Not only land transport but also the metro is moving towards robotic automation. The third line represents a new level of train traffic control. We are talking about smart trains that can move without a driver. They were supplied by Stadler Minsk CJSC for the Minsk subway. These trains are equipped with an autopilot system, the main functions of which are to follow the traffic schedule and automatically stop at stations with barriers. The driver would only control the situation and start trains in depots or dead ends.”

Autonomous logistics

Then we go to the office of the design service. The designers and technologists have a very responsible task — to develop a model consisting of as many units and components produced in our country as possible. And they cope with this task. One of the recent achievements of the team is the development of the concept of a medium-duty electric truck and its layout exclusively by Belarusian units.


 “The model is focused on large trading companies”, Andrey Savchits shows the drawings. “They managed to calculate that the cost per km of road on electric transport is much cheaper than on diesel. Reducing logistics and transportation costs is an important aspect of the work of road carriers, and the use of electric transport is an excellent option.
The creation of self-driving electric buses will entail the modernisation of the entire road complex.” Andrey Savchits spoke about what devices for automatic high-precision positioning of vehicles should a road be equipped with for self-driving vehicles:
“The deployment of autopilot technologies based on 5G allows us to optimise the routing of smart vehicles. Route guidance is based on traffic conditions. The system itself decides to reduce or increase the speed depending on the interval of traffic signals, we are talking about the so-called green corridor. The implementation of the smart city infrastructure will optimise transport costs and create the most comfortable transport environment.


The segments where Belarusian autopilot technologies are already working in real conditions are the quarry, mining, and agricultural equipment. Although the technology itself already allows machines to work without the use of manual labour, while the laws do not allow self-driving vehicles to move without drivers on open highways.”
“The self-driving vehicle market is developing very intensively. If we do not come up with a proposal for such equipment, then someone else will come out instead of us. The money should remain in our country so we could redirect it to the development of other technologies and enterprises”, Andrey Savchits once again outlined the main priorities.

By Inna Gorbatenko
Photos by Aleksandr Gorbas