LTA Smart Bus

During the 26th Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress 2019 held in Singapore, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Smart Bus was exhibited at The Float @ Marina Bay, showcasing a wide variety of concept features which have the potential to be implemented on public buses.

In addition to the ITS World Congress, the LTA Smart Bus is also exhibited at various other events.


Background – LTA Smart Bus Concept

In 2017, LTA organised the Smart Bus Challenge where youths were invited to rethink and co-create concepts that can change the way commuters travel on public buses. After the conclusion of the Challenge, selected ideas from the submissions were chosen to be integrated into a single bus to showcase what the public bus of the future could potentially look like through the lenses of the youths.

In addition to the selected ideas from the Smart Bus Challenge, the Smart Bus also showcases some proof of concept features that LTA is co-creating with the industry.

Background – LTA Smart Bus Vehicle

Main Article: MAN Lion’s City SD – 3-door Concept Bus

First showcased by MAN Truck & Bus at the LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition (SITCE) in October 2016, LTA subsequently trialled the bus on SMRT Bus Services 190 & 901 from June to December 2017 under the registration plate SG4002G.

After the trial, the bus was returned to ST Engineering Land Systems (formerly ST Kinetics), the local dealer of MAN Truck & Bus, where several systems developed by ST Engineering such as the I-SAW-U Driver Warning System were installed on the bus as a proof-of-concept.

The bus was then converted into the LTA Smart Bus in 2019, where it was exhibited at the 26th ITS World Congress 2019 held in Singapore, where various experimental technologies were installed. With no further road trials planned, the engine of the bus was also removed.

The bus was parked in LTA’s headquarters at Hampshire Road in 2021.

Scrapping of Vehicle

In late March 2023, the bus was sent to be scrapped at a local scrapyard (Kiat Lee).


Key Concepts Showcased Index

The various concepts showcased on the LTA Smart Bus are:

  1. Standees Lean-On with Wireless Charging
  2. Retractable Hand Grip
  3. Wingless Mirror
  4. Driver Facial Security & Anti-Fatigue System
  5. Bus Lane Violation System
  6. Contactless Payment System
  7. Interactive Capacity Lighting System
  8. Auto Tinting Windscreen
  9. In-Bus Mobile Apps
  10. Interactive Touch Screen Window

Features 6–10 are on the next page.


Exterior

The exterior styling of the LTA Smart Bus (formerly MAN Lion’s City SD Concept Bus) is virtually similar to the MAN Lion’s City Hybrid design. To provide for adequate headroom throughout the bus, especially for the raised section at the rear, the bus is built taller than production MAN NL323F buses.

A more detailed write-up can be found in the MAN Lion’s City SD – 3-door Concept Bus article.

Next to the entrance is a large LED display panel, which is significantly larger than the current Passenger Information Display System mandated for all public buses. It shows the route number, destination and upcoming bus stops along the route. To prevent excessive blocking of light, the display panel is designed to allow light into the bus cabin, with spaced-out thin LED strips mounted to an aluminium frame.

Unique to the LTA Smart Bus, the large electronic display signage (EDS) panels, which display the route destination, is of the white matrix design. Nearly all buses in Singapore use amber-coloured LEDs.  The small EDS panels, which display the service number, are multi-coloured.

As the I-SAW-U Driver Warning System was previously tested on this vehicle, external cameras, speakers and flashing lights are installed on the exterior.

Interior – General

The bus features 20 permanent seats and 7 foldable seats. Permanent seats are upholstered with thick cushions and fitted with headrests, and all aisle-facing seats come with folding armrests.

A more detailed write-up can be found in the MAN Lion’s City SD – 3-door Concept Bus article.


Key Concepts Showcased

1. Standees Lean-On with Wireless Charging

The bus is fitted with four lean-on panels, integrated with a multitude of features.

Each lean-on panel contains a foldable seat. To allow for flexible seating arrangements, each panel can be rotated, and secured in either the forward- or rearward-facing position.

A tray table-style folding panel, mounted on the opposite side of the folding seat, contains a wireless charging pad and an interactive tablet, which provides bus route information among other features.

Finally, the lean-on panel provides two plastic bag hooks, for passengers with grocery bags, and a USB charging port for the charging of mobile devices.


2. Retractable Hand Grip

Retractable hand grips prevent passengers from knocking into them when moving around in the bus. They lower when tugged on and retract upwards when released.

3. Wingless Mirror

Replacing conventional wing mirrors on the outside of the bus, digital side-view monitors mirrors transmit real-time footage from externally-mounted cameras into two display screens.

Using image processing software, digital mirrors are able to compensate for lighting, shadows or glare, and adjust their brightness to ambient lighting conditions. The software can also take care of raindrops or dirt on the lens.

Digital mirrors have previously been trialled in Singapore. Currently, the SmartVision Rearview Camera system is installed on an SMRT MAN A22 (SMB1316T), which is deployed on Bus Service 178 on a regular basis. The system was installed in early 2019.

See also: SmartVision Rearview Cameras trialled on buses


4. Driver Facial Security & Anti-Fatigue System

Supplied by local company TNT Surveillance, the Golden Eye Anti-Fatigue System is a driver auxiliary warning system that uses machine and facial vision technology to detect driver fatigue or abnormal behaviour.

The system comes in the form of a small dash-mounted unit (Golden Eye Monitor) containing a camera and infrared illumination units on the side. The infrared illumination enables the system to work in the dark and even when the driver is wearing sunglasses.

Visual and audio alerts are issued via the Golden Eye Display located on the dashboard (near the right aircon vent). Abnormal conditions detected by the Golden Eye Monitor include fatigue, distraction, smoking, and making phone calls. Vibration will also be triggered by the system through a seat-mounted device. The incident is then logged for review if required.

Furthermore, a Driver Facial Security System feature prevents the bus from being started by a non-authorised person.

See Also: Anti-Fatigue Systems for buses


5. Bus Lane Violation System

Integrated with the DriveSafe Intelligent Warning System offered by ST Engineering, the Bus Lane Violation System automatically identifies unauthorised vehicles in bus lanes and bus stops. Incident reports can then be forwarded to the relevant authorities, detailing the time, location and images of the infringement.


This Page – Background & Key Concepts 1 – 5
Page 2 – Key Concepts 6 – 10; Additional Features & Modifications; Other Events; Static Display at LTA HSO

5 thoughts on “LTA Smart Bus

  • 9 April 2020 at 2:57 PM
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    Not “smart” to let it just get wasted like this while it has another 14 to 15 years of useful lifespan ahead. They could have chosen this bus too for their diesel-to-electric conversion project and let it operate till end of life.

    Reply
  • 11 November 2019 at 3:56 PM
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    Since it’s called ‘smart bus’, can it talk, answer questions, jump, express emotions/feelings and do human activities?
    Question for ‘smart bus’; 1+1=? answer ‘?’

    Reply
  • 28 October 2019 at 1:21 PM
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    Since when is smart equals to more expensive? Smart should be cost effective, and energy efficient. This is not a smart bus, but a bus that requires more resources than a normal bus.

    Reply
  • 27 October 2019 at 3:55 AM
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    Bus lane violation system is what matter

    Reply

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