Dubai: Autonomous or driverless vehicles are likely to be deployed for transportation during Expo 2020, said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), as he kick-started RTA’s Innovation Week activities.
He said RTA is currently mulling the use of smart autonomous vehicles in Dubai that could be deployed during Expo 2020.
“This is part of our efforts to use sophisticated technologies in achieving smart mobility with the aim of applying the concept during Expo 2020,” said Al Tayer.
The first day of RTA’s Innovation Week saw the launch of an innovation race, an innovation gallery and a bus symbolising ‘innovation in motion’.
The innovation race will see hundreds of RTA staff taking part in various contests to generate ideas through a period of 12 months. The best ideas will then be awarded by the end of the year and implemented later.
“We will have all the staff taking part in the competition. It’s a way of encouraging creative thinking. There will be an expert panel of judges who will choose winners at various stages and the final winners will then win prizes at the end of the year,” said Laila Faridoon, executive director of RTA Director-General’s office and head of RTA Innovation Strategy Committee.
The day started with a keynote address by Tom Kelly, Founder of IDU Graphics Design and Development. Other activities of the day included the opening of an innovation exhibition at Noor Bank Metro station and a bus symbolising ‘Innovation in Motion.’
“When we roll out an idea of a project or a service to customers, we have to take into consideration from the beginning the need of people for this project or service, such that it can deliver its objectives, and we must ensure the optimal utilisation of the existing human, technical or informational resources,” said Tom Kelly, pointing to the need to empathise with people who will use the technology before developing it.
Following his address, Kelly joined Al Tayer and other officials to roll out ‘Innovation in Motion’, a specially designed bus that will work as a moving station where people can gather and discuss ideas.
“The bus is fitted with high-tech systems and interactive screens as well as office equipment enabling the holding of mini training courses about innovation issues. It will be stationed at various locations throughout the week and people are welcome to come in and share their ideas,” said Laila.
Later on Sunday, Al Tayer opened the Innovation Gallery at Noor Bank Metro station exhibiting models of innovative projects accomplished by the RTA and those to be undertaken in the future.
The gallery displays projects like the metro, tram, water canal, union oasis as well as the electric bus and the hybrid taxi and self-service kiosks installed in malls and other public places.
He highlighted some of the key smart services that RTA has implemented recently. Al Tayer said: “RTA has succeeded in transforming 173 customer services into smart, creative and user-friendly services offered through 10 smart apps. We recently launched the Smart Mall, the first of its kind worldwide, in five Metro stations enabling shoppers to use creative interactive screens to shop and have the purchase delivered to their doorsteps.”
RTA recently announced installation of 100 smart air-conditioned bus shelters offering riders free internet, among other services.
The activities throughout the week will include lectures, seminars, workshops, innovation gallery, Innovation Cinema and a training camp for students in collaboration with Enjaz.
