Managing Risk in the Design of Modular Systems for an Autonomous Shuttle

This paper presents an analysis and implementation of a robust autonomous driving system for an electric passenger shuttle in shared spaces. We present results of a risk assessment for our vehicle scenario and develop a flexible architecture that integrates safety features and optimises open-source software, facilitating research and operational functionality. Identifying limitations of the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework, we incorporate our own control measures for autonomous, unsupervised operation with enhanced intelligence. The study emphasises algorithm selection based on application requirements to ensure optimal performance. We discuss system improvements, including monitoring node implementation and localisation algorithm selection. Future work should explore transitioning to a real-time operating system (RTOS) and establishing standardised software engineering practices for consistent reliability. Our findings contribute to effective autonomous shuttle systems in shared spaces, promoting safer and more reliable transportation solutions.