By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 18: The manufacturer of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project specialises specifically in ART systems, says Sarawak Minister of Transport (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
His clarification came following a recent report indicating that Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara plans to return its ART prototype unit to China due to failures observed during its trial run and proof-of-concept (POC), particularly concerning its autonomous driving systems.
“The KUTS project is unlikely to face such problems as these challenges were addressed through close collaboration with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to refine the ART’s design and technology to meet the design and performance requirement for the operation of ART in Sarawak.
“Rigorous inspection and POC trials were conducted both in China and in Kuching where the ART system, such as autonomous navigation, obstacle detection and passenger safety are thoroughly tested and optimised.
“MOTS and relevant stakeholders have also conducted a thorough inspection at both the POC stage and the final design stages in Yibin, China to ensure that the ART system is tailored to suit Kuching’s specific environmental and operational conditions before being approved for shipment,” he said at a press conference held at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex here today.
He further said while Sarawak’s ART system is equipped with advanced autonomous capabilities, trained drivers will be on board to monitor the system and control the vehicle when necessary, further enhancing its safety and reliability.
Currently, the first batch of ART vehicles is undergoing rigorous factory testing and will be further tested and commissioned on-site in Kuching.
This stringent testing and commissioning process, he said, will be applied to all the 38 units of ART required for this project to guarantee consistent quality and safety.
“Moreover, unlike the ART manufacturer for Nusantara which specialises in high-speed rail, the manufacturer of the ART for KUTS project specialises specifically in ART systems.
“This targeted expertise, combined with an iterative process of real-world testing and refinement aims to ensure that Sarawak is well-equipped to deliver a modern, safe and efficient transport solution for Kuching,” he added. — DayakDaily
