US firm showcases 3D-printed, self-driving electric bus

Photo from Local Motors’ website

Local Motors, a US auto maker, has manufactured 3D-printed electric shuttle bus called “Olli,” a driverless and environmental-friendly vehicle that is set to dominate roads in the following months.

The 3D-printed shuttle bus is powered by IBM Watson’s cognitive car-learning technology, IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive. The shuttle bus was designed by Edgar Sarmiento, who won the company’s crowdsourcing contest.

John Rogers, the company’s co-founder, boasted in a press statement,“Olli offers a smart, safe and sustainable transportation solution that is long overdue. Olli with Watson acts as our entry into the world of self-driving vehicles, something we’ve been quietly working on with our co-creative community for the past year.” In the near future, Rogers dreams of establishing hundreds of small factories that can 3D-print Olli units within 10 hours.

Photo from Local Motors website

In the company’s website, Olli is characterized as a shuttle bus that is “part of a fleet management system complete with a central operation center and a consumer app.” Hence, a smartphone app is created to help any user track the shuttle bus’ route.

According to reports from tech news sites Engadget, The Verge, and Digital Trends, Olli is a 12-seater vehicle equipped with more than 30 sensors. It is currently driving on roads in Washington, DC, and is about to sail to Miami, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada, later this year. Local Motors also plans to expand its services in cities outside the US, such as Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Canberra in Australia.  Gianna Francesca Catolico

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