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Bus autonomy in smart depot

We enable buses to move autonomously around the depot (turning them into smartbuses) — transforming everyday maneuvers into a reliable source of safety, efficiency, and recovered driver time. To see how depot-first autonomy works in real operations — and why starting in the depot is the fastest path to tangible ROI — learn more here: Bus Autonomy Starts In The Depot.

Smart Depot 2026 Report

The State of Smart Depots 2026 — Download Free Report

Recover driver time in the depot

Depots generate dozens of repeated, low-speed movements per vehicle — staging, parking, tight turns, reversing, lining up for charging and wash, pull-in and pull-out. Each move is small; across the fleet, it adds up to significant lost driver capacity.

Use the Depot Time Calculator below to estimate how much driver time your own depot operations consume. For further context, see the blog post: Driver Shortage = Service Shortage.

Assumptions:

  • 8 hours per shift

  • 7 operating days per week

  • 220 working days per driver per year

Move the slider to change how many buses use SmartDEPOT™

Total depot driver-hours per day: –

Driver-hours returned to service per day: –

Equivalent extra drivers on the line: –

Initial estimate — for a depot-specific number, click below.

Smartbus Onboard Program

With the Smartbus Onboard Program, you can quickly assess feasibility, safety, and ROI in your own depot — then define a clear path from readiness assessment through pilot to procurement requirements, giving OEMs the confidence they need to integrate depot autonomy into their platforms.

Already Onboard

What is a smartbus?

Smartbus

It is a bus that drives autonomously around the depot - without the input of a driver.

  • The vehicle precisely plans its route, adapting it to the specific characteristics of each depot
  • It navigates autonomously between key zones
  • It parks with a high level of accuracy and performs daily service tasks
  • By automating routine, repetitive manoeuvres, up to a month of driver work per year can be recovered
  • Smartbuses are not only an increase in safety and operational fluency - they are a real, accessible first step towards the full automation of public transport today

What is SmartDEPOT™?

SmartDEPOT™

SmartDEPOT™ is a system that is a key piece of equipment in every smartbus, enabling it to drive autonomously around the depot. It operates in a closed, controlled environment, making implementation possible even today.

The system can be installed at the production stage of any type of bus, including standard 12m buses - always adapting to the individual needs of the transport operator.

News from Partners

Explore the latest updates from the SmartDEPOT™ Partner Network. Here we share key milestones, joint initiatives, and deployments that show how public transport operators and manufacturers are turning depots into a real competitive advantage. Stay informed about new collaborations, technology integrations, and success stories that move autonomous, depot-first operations from concept to daily practice.

Smartbus news

World Public Transport Day

World Public Transport Day

Gliwice, Poland — 17 April 2026

As cities around the world mark the first World Public Transport Day on 17 April 2026, PKM Gliwice and Autonomous Systems are using the moment to celebrate the people who make public transport happen: drivers — and to highlight a practical form of autonomy that supports them in daily work.

Autonomous Systems at IT-TRANS

Autonomous Systems at IT-TRANS

Karlsruhe, Germany – 19 February 2026

At IT-TRANS 2026 (Karlsruhe, 3–5 March), Autonomous Systems will present its depot-first autonomy approach for European smartbuses. Co-CEO Jan Gramatyka will speak at the Market Update Forum on 4 March (15:00) and serve as an expert trainer in the UITP Academy session on smart depots. Autonomous Systems is also a Future Mobility Award 2026 finalist.

PKM Gliwice - Smartbus Pilot

Smartbus Pilot at PKM Gliwice

Gliwice, Poland – 5 December 2025

Autonomous Systems, a technology company founded and operating in Gliwice, has launched the Smartbus Pilot together with PKM Gliwice at the city’s depot. The project brings together local engineering expertise and the experience of a municipal public transport operator, advancing a new category of smartbuses – standard city buses equipped with autonomous driving functions for depot operations.

Knowledge hub

Giving time back to drivers

Giving time back to drivers

Protect reliability by giving time back to drivers — starting with low-speed depot moves that consume capacity every day. Watch the video to see smartbus – the driver’s friend in the depot. 

The ROI of smartbuses

The ROI of smartbuses

Autonomy in public transport is often discussed as a future end-state. Here’s the practical view: what happens to costs and capacity when you automate the repetitive, non-revenue movements inside the depot. It starts with a simple ROI equation, breaks down the real cost buckets (per bus vs per depot), and shows why fleet scale changes unit economics - a straightforward way to turn “interesting” into “measurable.”

Depot autonomy

Revolution Evolution in bus autonomy

Autonomous buses won’t arrive via a single leap. This article explains why depot-first autonomy is the practical on-ramp: start in a controlled environment, learn safely in real operations, and build step-by-step readiness for street autonomy without disrupting service.