Autonomous shuttle bus rolls out at Kanata tech park

Canada’s first all-season autonomous shuttle bus is set to start transporting people around the Kanata North Tech Park. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy has the details.

An autonomous vehicle will be transporting people around the Kanata North Tech Park this fall and winter.

The Kanata North Business Association, Invest Ottawa, Aurrigo and city officials unveiled the Kanata North Smart Shuttle Thursday morning, Canada’s first autonomous shuttle operating on public roads in winter conditions.

“This groundbreaking pilot project demonstrates the future of smart mobility, strengthens Ottawa’s leadership in connected and autonomous vehicle innovation, and advances sustainable transportation solutions for Canada’s Largest Technology Park,” the Kanata North Business Association said in a media release.

The shuttle bus will serve the technology park, connecting employees and visitors along a 4.5 km route with eight stops, which includes businesses, restaurants, community spaces and public transit.

There will be a safety driver onboard the Kanata North Smart Shuttle, with officials saying it will provide for “seamless manual override if required.” The shuttle bus can travel up to 50 km/h.

The shuttle bus has been designed by U.K.-based Aurrigo International and validated at the Area X.O. Officials say the shuttle uses LiDAR, cameras and AI to achieve full 360° situational awareness.

“It will be a great way to move people around Canada’s largest technology park,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said on X.

The Kanata North Smart Shuttle will be the first medium-speed autonomous shuttle to operate on public roads in Canada.

“The first to be tested through Canadian winter conditions, including snow, sleet, ice, and sub-zero temperatures,” the Kanata North Business Association said.

“This milestone reinforces Ottawa’s role as a national leader and international living lab for smart, sustainable mobility.”

According to officials, the shuttle underwent extensive four-season testing at Ottawa’s Aera X.O., simulating pedestrians, cyclists, wildlife, intersections and winter conditions.

Focus on safety

Tenille Houston, vice-president of communications for Aurrigo, says there is a strong focus on safety.

“It is a medium-speed electric and autonomous shuttle that is built on a commercialized platform that’s been crash tested. So of course, safety, safety, safety with all these amazing sensors that make the technology work,” Houston said.

The shuttle can drive in winter conditions, using technology to detect road conditions.

“Of course, we need the road plowed just like any other vehicle, but our sensors are actually going to be able to detect the snow. And being that we have cameras and LiDAR, as well as wheel odometry, inertial measurement units and GPS positioning, we can use all those together to navigate these crazy winter terrains.”

One thing it can’t do is move over automatically if an emergency vehicle is approaching with lights and sirens, so the safety driver is required to take control of the vehicle.

“Let’s say an emergency service vehicle comes behind us. Our shuttle is not equipped with audio sensing to identify that that is a siren and pulling over, for example. So, that’s when our safety driver would take over, pull to the side of the road and then re-engage autonomous driving as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Houston said.

Kelly Daize, executive director of the Kanata North Business Association, says the shuttle will launch later this month and run through the early winter months.

“It’ll be operating Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and until the end of January of 2026,” Daize said.

“They can use the shuttle to go to other meetings to go to some of the restaurants and other services along the route and also give us all of their feedback.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Natalie van Rooy