Supervision: Mika Matysik

Can autonomous buses meaningfully complement the public transit system of the future, or will they remain primarily an experiment for the time being?

Autonomous buses are considered a promising approach to making local public transportation more flexible, efficient, and cost-effective. Against the backdrop of technological developments, rising demands for sustainable mobility, and changing mobility needs, the question is increasingly being raised as to what role autonomous systems can play in the overall structure of public transit in the future. It remains to be seen whether autonomous buses will primarily serve as a supplement to existing route networks—for example, in neighborhoods, outlying areas, or on routes with lower demand—or whether they can partially replace conventional public transit services.

The focus here is on the urban and transportation planning question of under what conditions autonomous buses can be meaningfully integrated into existing public transit systems. Factors to consider include, for example, service format, capacity, passenger demand, operational reliability, safety, and acceptance. Possible questions include: For which routes or subregions is there potential for autonomous bus systems? How can vehicles and service models be designed to meet diverse mobility and safety needs along the entire travel chain, thereby contributing to more inclusive mobility?

The city of Monheim can serve as a key case study, as practical experience is already available here from the former operation of an autonomous bus in the old town. Based on this case study, insights into operations, user acceptance, technical limitations, and scaling possibilities can be discussed. The project group can investigate to what extent these experiences can be applied to other areas and what differences arise—for example, in comparison with other pilot projects—due to local conditions such as settlement structure, traffic volume, accessibility, or existing public transportation infrastructure.

Students can independently develop and refine the methodological approach based on their interests. Possible approaches include document and case study analyses, mapping and accessibility analyses, scenario planning, expert interviews, or the development of a set of criteria for evaluating suitable deployment areas. Depending on the focus, the project can take a more analytical, conceptual, or scenario-based approach.

The goal of the project is to systematically examine and classify the potential and limitations of autonomous buses for the further development of public transit. Students are expected to determine whether—and in what form—autonomous systems could complement, alleviate the burden on, or, in the long term, partially replace existing public transit. Based on the results of the analysis, concrete deployment options, recommendations for action, and development paths for the use of autonomous buses can be formulated. The project thus offers ample scope for creative solutions and an active engagement with approaches to sustainable mobility development.