[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang] Autonomous driving software startup RideFlux will launch a late-night autonomous bus rapid transit (BRT) service in Busan from Jan. 26. The service will be available to any member of the public during late-night hours after existing BRT operations end.

RideFlux's late-night autonomous BRT will deploy one 9-metre electric bus (Woojin Industrial Systems Apollo 900). Up to 15 passengers can ride per vehicle. It will run on weekdays from 11:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

The bus will operate a round-trip route covering about 10.4 km between Haeundae Station and Dongnae Station on Busan Subway Line 2. It will help address gaps in public transport after existing BRT operations end, linking major subway stations and hubs.

RideFlux said the vehicle is designed with 8 cameras and 6 LiDAR sensors to detect surrounding vehicles, pedestrians and objects in real time with 360-degree coverage. It also stressed it provides stable operations through an autonomous cooperative driving function linked to the route's smart road system.

RideFlux Chief Executive Jung-hee Park (박중희) said, "Busan's late-night autonomous bus goes beyond a simple technology demonstration and will become a new means of public transport that provides nighttime mobility convenience for citizens." He added, "RideFlux will continue to lead innovation in urban transport through safe and reliable autonomous driving services."