Dubbo Automated Smart Ute Project

The Dubbo Automated Smart Ute Project has successfully wrapped up a significant achievement in the future of automated vehicle technology in Australia.

Transport for NSW FMRTC team member in front of Dubbo ute.

The trial focused on a retrofitted Ford Ranger Ute capable of Level 3 automation, allowing the vehicle to drive itself under specific conditions, including steering, braking, and accelerating along pre-mapped routes.

Project Overview

  • Location: Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Vehicle: Ford Ranger Ute (Retrofitted with lidar, radar, cameras, and drive-by-wire steering systems).
  • Technology: Level 3 automation, enabling partial autonomous driving.

Map of the trial area route.

Key Objectives

The project aimed to test and develop solutions for regional mobility and road safety in Australia. 

Specifically, the smart ute focused on:

  • Exploring how automated technology could be integrated into regional transport networks
  • Collecting valuable data to guide the future of connected and automated vehicle adoption in rural settings
  • Retrofitting automation capabilities to existing vehicles and understanding the complexities
  • Detecting and avoiding wildlife on rural roads. 

Trial Success

The smart ute trial ran from 2019 to 2023, progressing from testing in a controlled environment at the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre to real-world on-road operations in Dubbo. Over the course of the trial, the vehicle gathered critical insights, helping Transport for NSW and its partners evaluate the potential for autonomous vehicles for improving road safety, efficiency, and mobility in regional areas.

Transport for NSW Automated vehicle emergency brake testing with a pedestrian child. Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre (FMTRC) Cudal, NSW.

Looking Forward

With the successful completion of this project, the trial has provided a roadmap for future autonomous vehicle developments in New South Wales. It highlights the potential to retrofit off-the-shelf vehicles with automation technology, making the transition to autonomous driving more accessible. 

This project has paved the way for new advancements in regional transport, and its findings will contribute to future trials aimed at expanding autonomous vehicle usage in Australia.

To learn more about the smart ute you can contact us by emailing future.mobility@transport.nsw.gov.au