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Sensible 4 and MUJI create all-weather robotbus
Finnish startup Sensible 4 and Japanese lifestyle brand MUJI are together launching an autonomous shuttle bus capable of operating in all weather conditions.
The so-called Gacha robotbus will combine Sensible 4’s autonomous driving technology with MUJI’s design and user experience and will be displayed to the public in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, in March 2019.
After its Helsinki premiere, the Gacha shuttle bus will be introduced to operate and take passengers in live traffic in three Finnish cities. The plan is to roll out the first Gacha fleet in 2020 and offer real public transport services in 2021.
At the centre of the collaboration is Gacha’s ability to work autonomously in any weather or environment, which is an advantage Sensible 4 has developed by testing and validating its self-driving technology in Arctic Lapland conditions.
“We are developing these vehicles so that they can become part of the daily transport service chain,” says Harri Santamala, CEO of Sensible 4. “Autonomous vehicles can’t become mainstream until their technology is guaranteed to work in all climates.”
Sensible 4 and MUJI have collaborated on the project since 2017, and it offers yet another example of how the Japanese lifestyle brand is deepening its ties with Finland, where it is making itself a permanent home next year.
Interested to learn how Sensible 4’s self-driving technology did not drive over the company’s CEO regardless of snow? Read our feature article here.