A significant software upgrade of ARDi has been scheduled for next week from Monday 25 – 29 March. The trial/passenger service will not be available for the whole week.

EasyMile engineers will be on-site all week updating the software, testing and re-mapping the route.

On Monday between 1-5pm and Tuesday between 10am-3pm the vehicle will be under traffic management operating at 5km/hr to allow remapping to occur. (Similar to the mapping phase that occurred last year in December)

For the remainder of the week the vehicle will either be off the road or back circulating on the route at the normal autonomous speeds of up to 15km/hr.

It is hoped the software upgrade will reduce the amount of e-stops due to falling leaves and the vehicle should now be able to autonomously navigate around vehicles or obstacles that are in the vehicle trajectory. Currently the operator on-board has to drive in manual mode around an obstacle like an illegally parked car.

We will endeavour to ensure disruption to road users is at a minimum, however there will be periods (highlighted above) where the vehicle will be travelling at 5kms/hr. The UNE community have been wonderful and very patient throughout the trial and we again ask for patience and assistance.

On behalf of Armidale Regional Council.