An intelligent voice assistant for the "STL Line 13"

The "STL Line 13" has one more innovative application. From April 2024, Ivy, an artificial voice assistant, will be travelling on the self-driving bus and answering passengers' questions.

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28.03.2024

There are no driverless buses on Swiss roads yet. For safety reasons, the "STL Line 13" in Schaffhausen is always accompanied by a person who can take over the vehicle at any time. Our safety drivers are also available to answer questions and provide information to passengers about the pilot project. But what will happen when buses are travelling fully autonomously one day? Who will answer passengers' questions then?

The communicative role of bus drivers should not be underestimated. In addition to automated driving, the STL is therefore also trialling new solutions for future interaction between passengers and transport operators. Our new partner, Commend Schweiz AG, is supporting us in this endeavour.

From April 2024, another application will be available in the self-driving bus in Mühlental. Passengers will now be greeted by Ivy, the intelligent voice assistant from Commend. Ivy takes over some of the communication tasks of the safety drivers and answers questions about the "STL Line 13". She can provide information about the weather or the time and can even crack a joke or two.

Passengers can contact Ivy via a touch screen and ask their questions in Swiss German, German or English. Ivy answers to the best of her knowledge in German or English and learns from questions whose answers she does not yet know. She is thus constantly expanding her knowledge. The STL invites curious people to try out the new application in Mühlental and is looking forward to the findings and feedback.