The Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has conducted the trial operation of the ‘First Autonomous Electric Abra’, able to transport eight passengers.
In a tweet on Sunday, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said: “The operation of the Autonomous Electric Abra is in line with RTA’s efforts to achieve Dubai’s Strategy for Self-Driving Transport that aims to convert 25% of the total mobility journeys in Dubai into self-driving journeys by 2030. It also contributes to the realisation of Dubai’s master plan to curb carbon emissions of public transport means as per the requirements of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.”
“The Autonomous Electric Abra boasts superb features highlighted by zero carbon emissions, lower operating and maintenance costs by 30%, and the elimination of noise compared to diesel-powered models. It is equipped with two electric motors with a maximum speed of seven knots. It has an autonomous control system and four lithium batteries that ensure an operating time of seven hours. RTA adopted new technologies in designing the structure of the Autonomous Electric Abra and used fibreglass in the hull to reduce the weight.”, he added.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, @rta_dubai : The operation of the Autonomous Electric Abra is in line with RTA’s efforts to achieve Dubai’s Strategy for Self-Driving Transport. pic.twitter.com/PSB89Qra2m
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 14, 2023
During the trial run, the Autonomous Electric Abra has achieved Level 4 out of the 6 levels of the international autonomy levels for ship design and operation. The initial journey ran from Al Jaddaf Station to the Festival City Station on Dubai Creek.
Al Tayer noted that the RTA will be developing an automated anchoring operations and scenarios for making decisions during maneuvering and emergency and follow up the maturity of the system in order to reach Level 5. It will also be working closely with the Dubai Maritime City Authority to address matters in the legislation of autonomous marine means.
“RTA has developed a master plan to develop the marine transport means, which is vital for the smooth mobility in the Emirate. Marine transport ferried about 16 million riders in 2022,” Al Tayer said.
“The plan includes the development of four traditional abra stations in Dubai Creek namely Bur Dubai, Deira Old Souk, Dubai Old Souk, and Al Sabkha Stations. The plan envisages increasing the capacity of the abra stations by 33%, using advanced technologies to reduce maintenance costs and increase the lifespan of assets, improving the lighting of stations and marinas, and providing facilities for customers and investment areas,” he added.
