ORLANDO, Fla. – An autonomous shuttle service will roll out in Orlando's Lake Nona area this spring.
- Driverless shuttles coming to Lake Nona
- The electric shuttles can carry up to 15 passengers
- The vehicles will operate on a fixed route
The driverless, electric Autonom Shuttle will be the first of its kind in Florida. Developed by French manufacturer Navya, the shuttles will be controlled by computer and operate on a fixed route around the Lake Nona community. The exact route has not yet been released.
The shuttles can carry up to 15 passengers and travel at speeds of up to 16 mph. Each shuttle will have a dedicated operator on board, who will monitor the vehicle's functions.
The system will be operated by Beep, which announced Tuesday it would be opening its headquarters in Orlando.
The autonomous shuttles are part of Lake Nona's push to be a "smart community." The area is already home to electric vehicle charging stations, a bike share program and community shuttles.
"Lake Nona continues to be a model of what a smart and connected community can accomplish," Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in a statement. "Bringing the first all-electric autonomous shuttles to Central Florida is a defining moment for the future of transportation in our region and will help position Orange County as a place to demonstrate new, innovative technology."