Perrone Robotics Inc. (PRI) and Albemarle County, Virginia recently wrapped up a three-month trial period of free public demonstration rides on the Autonomous Vehicle, Neighborhood Use (AVNU) shuttle.

During the trial, the AVNU shuttle drove fully autonomously—with a safety monitor onboard—on public roads in Crozet, Virginia, navigating a variety of real-world conditions including vehicle, bike, and pedestrian traffic through intersections and roundabouts. The shuttle drove more than 530 miles and carried 750 passengers with no interventions required.

“We’re thrilled to have fielded the first open road autonomous shuttle here in Virginia, giving members of the public safe and smooth rides with zero incidents and zero safety interventions through complex intersections and traffic,” says Paul Perrone, chief executive officer and founder of Perrone Robotics.

“Through our partnership with the County, we were able to demonstrate autonomous transport to enhance the mobility and utility of riders is viable now in a typical American community.”

Classified as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), the shuttle is based on a Polaris GEM e6 vehicle, and is equipped with PRI’s TO Navigate You (TONY) autonomous transit kit. 

During the trial, the AVNU shuttle transported riders around the Old Trail residential development in Crozet. It also transported riders from Old Trail to Downtown Crozet, and from Downtown Crozet into a different neighborhood and adjoining park. 

Traveling during various times of the day, the shuttle shared public roads with pedestrian, cyclist, and car/truck/bus traffic. Before the vehicle hit the public roads for the trial, Perrone Robotics first tested the AVNU shuttle in simulation, and then on its test track.

“We were very pleased to observe this pilot of the next generation of transportation – autonomous neighborhood shuttles – right here in Albemarle County, Virginia” says Roger Johnson, Albemarle County’s Economic Development director.

“The last-mile AVNU shuttle showed us how citizens that cannot drive, whether elderly or young, embraced the concept of an autonomous vehicle moving them safely to shops or restaurants. We can see how more of these shuttles would alleviate common parking issues and how using EVs is also great for reducing noise and pollution.”

PRI and Albemarle County will look to identify new trial areas going forward, and they will also look into the possibility of retrofitting larger transit vehicles with this technology. The entities will also look into increasing the number of operational units to provide Albemarle County residents with a regular service featuring the technology.