Autonomous Vehicles in New Capital

The plan for developing a new capital includes autonomous vehicle-based modern transportation. This will be a breakthrough for Indonesia’s transportation sector.

KOMPAS/Lasti Kurnia

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumardi (far right) attends the signing ceremony for the nationwide agreement on Linking Connectivity Across the Nation’s Capitals on 26 Feb. 2020 at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta.

The plan for developing a new capital adopts the concept of a “city of the future” including through the use of modern transportation based on autonomous vehicles. This will be a breakthrough in Indonesia’s transportation sector. Comprehensive preparations will be necessary.

The plan was stated by President Joko Widodo at a forum held by the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) in Jakarta on Jan. 15. The President and relevant ministries have also conveyed the plan on several other occasions.

Transportation is an important aspect of the plan for the new capital in East Kalimantan. Besides autonomous vehicles, the President also said a zone of the city would be reserved for electric vehicles only.

Autonomous vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) system and sensors to operate without drivers.

Studies have been conducted on the best practices in countries that already have a similar transportation system, like China and Germany. The government also claimed a number of investors from China and Canada were interested in providing funds for the project.

Autonomous vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) system and sensors to operate without drivers.

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The control system technology is composed of sensors like computer vision and sensor fusion instruments that capture images and videos of the traffic flow as reference points.

The self-driven vehicles are also furnished with a smart GPS and path planning system. The basic driving system, including the accelerator, steering and brake pedal, is also operated automatically though electronic control unit (ECU) technology.

KOMPAS/DAHONO FITRIANTO

Toyota e-Palette, konsep minibus swakemudi, ditampilkan di Tokyo Motor Show 2019 di Odaiba, Tokyo, Jepang, Rabu (23/10/2019). Mobil masa depan ini akan digunaka pada Olimpiade Tokyo 2020.

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Development trend

In recent years, the world has been eagerly developing autonomous vehicles. The development of automatic vehicles has continued to show dynamic progress in America, Europe and Asia.

However, the concept and development of self-driven vehicles first emerged in the 1920s. Since then, the concept has been improved through further studied. In 1987, Marcedez-Benz in cooperation with Carnegie

Mellon University and Bundeswehr Munich built a car that could be automatically propelled.

Autonomous vehicle technology can be divided into five levels: autonomous vehicles that still need assistant drivers, those with partial automation features, conditional automation, high automation and full automation.

Tesla, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Volvo and General Motors have all done research into autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicle development has also attracted the computer technology industry.

For instance, in 2013 a computer company from Italy, Vislab, introduced automatically driven vehicles to public traffic routes. Several technology companies like Google, Apple, Vislab and Baidu are keenly engaged in research to build autonomous vehicles.

Beyond America and Europe, many other countries have also conducted autonomous vehicle studies. For example, an intensive study of self-driven cars has been underway in the United Arab Emirates since 2015. China and Japan have also been keen to develop automatic driving systems.

In 2018, a minibus-shaped vehicle was tested at Babcock Ranch, south of Florida, the United States, as an autonomous school bus. The pilot project vehicle had a moderate transportation capacity, with a maximum of only 12 children.

A year later, several other states in the US also issued regulations allowing the use of autonomous cars. The same also applied to countries in Europe, such as France, Britain and Italy.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Daily activities are relatively unhurried on Thursday (29/8/2019) at a coastal settlement in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan. North Penajam Paser, which President Joko Widodo has selected along with Samboja as the site of the nation’s new capital, provides nautical access to Balikpapan, which is much faster than by land.

Comprehensive preparations

Indonesia is new to autonomous transportation. The development of the new capital as a city of the future will not be simple, including the realization of an effective transportation based on autonomous vehicles. Comprehensive preparations are needed, ranging from physical infrastructure like roads and telecommunication networks to the development of supporting regulations.

The goal to build an automated transportation system is part of the plan to make the new capital a city of the future. The goal is to build a smart city by prioritizing the equilibrium between physical and ecological aspects with the support of digital technology.

For this, basic infrastructure of telecommunication networks must be prepared.

Today, the area in North Penajam Paser can already be accessed by fiber optic networks but only one cellular operator is capable of operating that is not yet connected to a 5G fast internet network. Several telecommunication service providers are expanding their networks to the new capital zone.

The capital zone will also be prepared for transportation behavioral education.

The government is also preparing a multifunction satellite project with the target to make it operational by 2023. In addition, the telecommunication infrastructure will utilize the middle frequency band that supports 5G high-speed internet.

No less important is the formulation of autonomous vehicle regulations. Rules on maintaining order and discipline in the use of self-driven vehicles should be made in great detail, including considerations of security risks and traffic convenience.

In essence, the capital zone will also be prepared for transportation behavioral education, meaning the government should also strictly control the use of private vehicles from the outset. (KOMPAS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DIVISION)