Self-driving shuttles gives high-school students new perspectives
The classes on Tuesday and Wednesday in week 35, 2021, have been a bit different for the students at Next Vestskoven Gymnasium in Albertslund. They have both tried to drive in the self-driving electrical shuttle and they have worked with it in various subjects.
”Many teachers have found new angles in their teaching in both social and technology subjects. Several teachers have managed to integrate it directly into their teaching during this period, where we can test the self-driving shuttles, others will integrate it later. It has been really fun for the students – and it has created a lot of excellent reflections,” says Trine Ladekarl Nellemann.
The testing of the self-driving shuttles is happening due to a collaboration between the Gate 21 project LINC, NEXT Vestskoven Gymnasium and Albertslund Municipality.
Theory used in practice
The teaching at the high school has focused on realistic issues and the teachers has taught how theory can be used in practice. Giovana Benitez and Martim Batista have experienced this in the course Idea History’:
“We have worked with the ANT-model, where we have explored the challenges and the opportunities within the self-driving technology. We have talked about how it can create jobs and remove other jobs – and we have discussed the ethics behind it,” says Giovana and Martim.
They have both tested the shuttle and they can both imagine themselves as passengers in the self-driving shuttle in the future.
“It would be a really good form of transport, if it could drive a bit faster and maybe have room for a few more passengers. It would definitely be easier to use this compared to having to take a driver’s license,” says Giovana Benitez.
For the test drive at the parking lot, the shuttle only drives around 10 kilometers per hour.
Self-driving shuttles are being tested as a part of the city of the future
The self-driving shuttles at NEXT Vestskoven Gymnasium is a part of the LINC-project, where the self-driving shuttles will drive for a 6-months long test period at the Danish Technical University in Lyngby. Scientists analyses how the students react to the technology and how it can become an integrated part of the city of the future.
Behind the project is Albertslund Municipality, Gladsaxe Municipality, Danish Technical University, Roskilde University, Nobina Denmark, IBM Denmark and Gate 21. The LINC-project is co-financed by the European Region Development Fund through Urban Innovative Actions Initiative (UIA).
Urban mobility
