Upgrading “Smart CityDrive” with C-V2X Technology to Enhance Driving Safety and Traffic Efficiency
HONG KONG, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Citybus Limited (Citybus) collectively introduced in the present day the launch of the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) pilot scheme in the Kai Tak Development Area. This initiative, built-in with Citybus’s operational situations and led by ASTRI, marks the primary time the C-V2X system has been linked to a franchised bus community to supply Bus Captains with real-time driving ideas, enhancing each driving security and visitors effectivity. This is just not solely a milestone in native good mobility growth but in addition lays a stable basis for future autonomous bus pilot schemes.
As the main bus operator in the Kai Tak Development Area, Citybus operates a number of franchised routes traversing the previous runway space. For the primary time, ASTRI has put in C-V2X tools on double-deck buses and built-in it with Citybus’s onboard programs. This permits the buses to speak in real-time with good roadside models (RSUs) put in alongside Shing Fung Road and Muk On Street in Kai Tak, receiving prompt data on street situations and visitors sign standing. With the improved “Smart CityDrive” system, Bus Captains will obtain real-time driving ideas and suggestions via the bus cabin pill. Following prudent technical and street testing, the C-V2X system is now being utilized in a passenger-carrying franchised bus operational setting as a pilot scheme. Upon mission completion, ASTRI will use the findings to conduct additional analysis exploring methods to boost driving security and effectivity.
Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, stated, “ASTRI has been dedicated to the research, development, and implementation of C-V2X technologies, aiming to address urban traffic challenges through innovation. We are delighted to launch this pilot scheme with Citybus, applying cutting-edge communication technology to double-deck buses. This not only demonstrates how smart mobility can tangibly enhance road safety but also represents a significant step in Hong Kong’s journey towards becoming a smart city. We look forward to applying innovative technologies to more public transport vehicles in the future to further enhance traffic efficiency and safety.”
Mr Roger Ma, Operations Director of Citybus, stated, “Citybus has been actively introducing innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and driving safety, and is committed to providing efficient and reliable bus services for all passengers in Hong Kong. This collaboration with ASTRI involves hardware and software upgrades to the ‘Smart CityDrive’ safe driving system on selected buses. By utilising C-V2X technologies, it empowers the system with more accurate road condition prediction capabilities, allowing Bus Captains to focus more on driving. This is a crucial step towards smart mobility.”
Four Citybus double-deck buses geared up with ASTRI’s C-V2X system are at the moment offering passenger providers on routes together with 22, 22D, 22M and 22X in the Kai Tak Development Area. Benefiting from the low latency and excessive reliability of the C-V2X system (5.9GHz devoted spectrum band), Bus Captains can obtain complete visible, textual content, and voice security alerts via the “Smart CityDrive” protected driving system, enabling them to know real-time visitors situations, roadworks data, and junction driving suggestions.
- Real-time visitors sign information to help Bus Captains in predicting street situations: When a C-V2X-equipped bus approaches designated sections of Shing Fung Road and Muk On Street in Kai Tak, the system points advance driving suggestions primarily based on the real-time visitors sign standing, reminding the Bus Captain to take care of velocity or decelerate early beneath protected situations.
- All-rounded real-time alerts to supply complete security help: The C-V2X system integrates real-time visitors data from the HKSAR Government’s “DATA.GOV.HK” portal, enabling it to tackle street situations past the road of sight. When there are roadworks or visitors incidents forward, Bus Captains can have extra time to answer surprising conditions.
ASTRI and Citybus will repeatedly analyse the system’s operational efficiency and acquire suggestions from Bus Captains to additional optimise numerous capabilities. Both events firmly consider that the applying of C-V2X know-how in good mobility is a major growth and will drive the development of autonomous bus tasks in the long run.
Photos Download: https://bit.ly/442akOF
Ir Dr Ted Suen (proper), Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI and Mr Roger Ma (left), Operations Director of Citybus, lately visited Kai Tak Development Area to examine the inaugural implementation of C-V2X know-how on double-decker buses.
About ASTRI
Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the town’s largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to remodeling high-impact analysis into sensible improvements, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary developments throughout sectors, together with Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has additional strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 profitable circumstances of know-how switch. Recognised with quite a few worldwide awards, ASTRI continues to nurture prime I&T expertise and foster collaborations among the many I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-value financial growth. For additional data, please go to www.astri.org.
About Citybus Limited
Established in 1979, via fixed innovation and glorious service supply, Citybus has grown to function over 1,700 buses throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories and employs over 5,000 workers to serve over 1.1 million prospects day by day. We have an business main bus fleet with each electrical and hydrogen buses, and nearly all of buses working at Euro5 emissions customary or above.