Deployments & Demonstrations
20+ years experience from pioneering driverless demonstrations to commercial pilots to current day-to-day autonomous transit operations
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark, New Jersey
Perrone Robotics, in partnership with STV, is conducting a phased test exploring last mile mobility challenges at airports. Our first project together and phase is at the Newark Liberty International Airport and involves testing on a closed course to demonstrate an 11-person AV shuttle operating with stop conditions, roadway mergers and detection of obstructions.
Michigan Central CONNECT
Detroit, Michigan
We're excited to announce the launch of the Detroit Connect shuttle service, an innovative transit solution now serving the heart of downtown Detroit! Powered by Perrone Robotics' TONY autonomous vehicle kit, the fleet of zero-emission, ADA-compliant Ford E-Transit vans navigates over 10 miles of urban routes, marking a significant milestone in accessible and sustainable transportation. This project, made possible by our collaboration with Detroit's city leadership and key partners, represents a transformative step in the future of urban mobility.
CapMetro
Austin, Texas
Perrone Robotics has partnered with WSP, Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), Clever Devices, and CapMetro to automate a 40-foot bus for yard operations in Austin, Texas. This project aims to improve the efficiency and safety of bus yard operations by automating vehicle storage, operation, and charging processes. Utilizing Perrone's TONY autonomous vehicle kit, the collaboration highlights the potential for reducing operational costs, enhancing safety, and supporting sustainability in public transit.
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Perrone Robotics is proud to be a key partner in an innovative project with the University of Alabama, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), to enhance safety features for large autonomous transit buses. Our TONY autonomous vehicle platform will be utilized to integrate advanced safety systems, helping to prevent collisions and ensure safe operations in busy urban environments. This project underscores Perrone Robotics' leadership in delivering cutting-edge autonomous solutions, enabling safer and more efficient public transportation. Our collaboration aims to revolutionize the future of transit with scalable, safety-focused automation technology.
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Perrone is providing the first all electric zero emissions, ADA-compliant, and FMVSS-compliant autonomous vehicles (AVs) to operate for the University of Hawaii. Perrone will be fielding multiple AVs based on GreenPower Motor Company's EV-Star mini E-bus outfitted with Perrone's TONY (To Navigate You) AV product. Perrone has entered into an agreement with Sustainability Partners (SP), a revolutionary Infrastructure as a Service company, to supply the AVs for operation in Hawaii. SP facilitates the purchase of new technology across industries and supplies them to customers at a standardized and affordable rate. SP is under contract with the state of Hawaii to provide fleets of vehicles and related EV infrastructure.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Blacksburg, Virginia
Perrone is supplying the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) with Perrone Robotics' TONY-based all-electric, ADA-compliant, and FMVSS-compliant autonomous transit vans to operate at VTTI's facilities. VTTI's impressive facility boasts over 12 lane miles of roads, the ability to create unique weather scenarios, and some of the latest V2X technology. VTTI will leverage the wide range of autonomous vehicle (AV) capabilities the TONY AV platform has to offer.
North Fork Research Park
Charlottesville, Virginia
Perrone is deploying and operating a variety of vehicles to service the 560+ acres of mixed-use land located at North Fork, a University of Virginia discovery park - just minutes north of Charlottesville VA. The shuttles are initially transporting employees of companies located in North Fork and visitors between its nine Class-A office and laboratory buildings, providing easy access to park amenities. Over time, additional passenger and goods delivery vehicles will be deployed to operate throughout the park and community.
Johns Hopkins University’s Institute for Assured Autonomy
Laurel, Maryland
Perrone Robotics supplied two autonomous vehicles to the IAA and is collaborating with the team to advance research and the state of the art in assurance for autonomous vehicles. Perrone will be collaborating with Johns Hopkins University's Institute for Assured Autonomy, run jointly by the Applied Physics Laboratory and the Whiting School of Engineering on this project.
Houston METRO Shuttle of the Future
Houston, Texas
Perrone is outfitting the Zeus 400, a mid-size body-on-chassis shuttle bus from Phoenix Motorcars. The Zeus 400 is compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Buy America compliant, as well as compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This award is part of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) grant which was granted last year. The bus will provide autonomous shuttle service to Texas Southern University, Houston's Third Ward, and the University of Houston.
Philadelphia Navy Yard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Perrone Robotics is deploying an all electric, FMVSS and Buy America Compliant, and ADA accessible shuttle to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in order to provide an autonomous shuttle service for the residents and employees who reside at the Navy Yard. Service will also include operations to/from local sports arenas.
University of Wisconsin
Madison & Racine, Wisconsin
UW-Madison's Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory (TOPS Lab), a research laboratory within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, uses the highly automated vehicle on public and private roads for research, data collection and public engagement. Through a partnership with the city of Racine, Gateway Technical College and UW-Madison, Perrone's AV vehicle is part of a larger initiative focused on bringing mobility options across Wisconsin. The deployment of the shuttle is based on a fixed-route service on private and public roads surrounding the technical college campus and also operates on a downtown Racine connector route and on-demand service during off-peak hours.
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Jacksonville, Florida
Perrone Robotics has deployed two AVs to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority in Florida. One is an AV Star operating as the world's first fully autonomous, all electric, ADA compliant, FMVSS compliant, and Altoona tested transit van. JTA is operating the AV Star on public roads. The vehicle is capable of operating at posted road speeds.
Perrone Robotics has also deployed a Microtransit Low Speed EV to JTA also capable of public road operation. These are all important and critical features for transit authorities across the nation. These are also all important features driven by the vision for the future of autonomous transit established by the JTA in their Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program.
Click here for more information about the AV Star deployment.
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Perrone has delivered a driverless off-road AV to the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. The AV is based on a Polaris Ranger ATV with the latest TONY AV kit to help advance the Army’s development of autonomous vehicle use cases. The vehicle is used for off-road autonomous operations in both GPS present and GPS denied environments.
American Center for Mobility
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Perrone Robotics leveraged facilities at the American Center for Mobility (ACM) in Ypsilanti, Michigan for testing of a wide range of AVs and AV operational scenarios. ACM provides a dynamic and expansive facility that allows for a wide range of testing scenarios and environments. Transit vans, low speed vehicles, and custom shuttles alike are vehicles from the Company used for testing and training at the facility.
Autonomous Yard Trucks
Logistics Yards
Perrone has performed work with a Fortune 100 Logistics Company leading the world in global logistics services to outfit yard trucks for full autonomy. The TONY Kit is installed to autonomously operate yard trucks, with and without a wide range of trailers, around logistics yards, performing the same maneuvers that drivers in such yards perform. The TONY kit is configured for custom maneuvers that include hitching and unhitching from trailers using a hydraulic 5th wheel, adapting to changing weights and lengths of trailers, and backing up trailers to docking bays with high precision.
Albemarle County Shuttle
Crozet, Virginia
Perrone Robotics fielded and operated an autonomous shuttle throughout a residential community with connections to a downtown district. The TONY shuttle transported riders around the Old Trail residential development in Crozet, Virginia and from Old Trail to Downtown Crozet. Additional routes traversed from Downtown Crozet into different neighborhoods and an adjoining park. The shuttles traveled public roads with pedestrian, cyclist, and car/truck/bus traffic at varying times of the day. AV operations were conducted with zero interventions over the course of a multi-month demonstration and operation program.
U.S. Army Fort Carson
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Perrone, in collaboration with First Transit, US Ignite, and the U.S. Army ERDC, deployed two low speed vehicles at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The vehicles were part of a program to provide transit for service members and to evaluate electric autonomous shuttle operations on base.
Local Motors - Olli
Europe & Asia
Perrone Robotics outfitted and demonstrated fully autonomous Olli 1.0 and 2.0 shuttles in 2021. The Company forged an OEM partnership and became the preferred autonomous vendor for Local Motors. Perrone was able to utilize the TONY kit to enhance the speed, handling, and safety of the vehicles. Perrone was working with Local Motors to initially deploy shuttles in Europe. Perrone was undergoing QA testing with the vehicles until Local Motors unexpectedly ceased operations in January 2022.
Western Reserve Transit Authority
Youngstown, Ohio
The WRTA AV pilot consists of a zero-emission GreenPower Motor Company EV Star shuttle, which meets ADA and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The vehicle is outfitted with Perrone Robotics’ TONY (TO Navigate You) autonomy kit. The 12-passenger shuttle will drive routes serving Youngstown residents, businesses, and visitors connecting Youngstown's Transit Center, Mercy Hospital and Youngstown State University.
Autonomous Mining Trucks
Mining Sites
PRI worked with Liebherr's Mining Group in Newport News to integrate PRI's MAX™ platform into large haul mining trucks. MAX was configured to enable the truck to perform full life cycle autonomous haulage at a mining facility. The AV solution performed maneuvers ranging from autonomous navigation through the site, avoidance of obstructions, operating in the presence of berms, and traversing up and down hills.
LincVolt
Bay Area, California
Paul Perrone worked closely with Neil Young to automate the functions of his 1959 Lincoln Continental called “LincVolt”. LincVolt was converted to electric operation with an onboard clean energy generation solution in 2010. Paul and Perrone Robotics worked to imbue LincVolt with intelligent operations and automation of its onboard functions.
2005 DARPA Grand Challenge
Mohave Desert, Nevada/California
Perrone Robotics' created and led "Team Jefferson” to participate in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. This historic and pioneering event held out a $2M prize for the team that could field a vehicle to autonomously navigate 170 miles across the Mohave Desert without a driver onboard or in control. Perrone Robotics founded and led Team Jefferson to build “Tommy”, a custom built dune buggy designed for total driverless operation.
These were the early days of driverless vehicles with a small number of organizations worldwide participating. With a budget of only $60K, a single $200 processing platform, and 10 man-months of software development time, this was the earliest demonstration of the capabilities behind the company’s autonomous vehicle software platform.
2007 DARPA Urban Challenge
Victorville, California
Perrone Robotics created led “Team Jefferson” in 2007 to participate in the DARPA Urban Challenge. This event, a follow on from the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, held out a $2M prize for the team that could field a vehicle to autonomously navigate across a 60 mile urban environment without a driver onboard or in control. Perrone Robotics founded and led Team Jefferson to build “Tommy Junior”, a modified Scion xB decked out for full driverless operation.
Jaguar Land Rover
Coventry & Milton Keynes, UK
Perrone collaborated with the British OEM, Jaguar Land Rover to conduct operations of an autonomous system in both the United States and United Kingdom. The UK-based vehicle was operated as part of the UK AutoDrive program. The equipped system proved itself capable of operating on two continents, left and right side road operations. This deployment saw speeds up to 55 MPH and operations in mixed traffic. The vehicle operated in a busy urban environment in Coventry a well as along an extended route through Milton Keynes.
Drop-in Autonomy Kit (DAK)
Test Tracks
Perrone’s first venture into a commercial vehicle retrofit was the Drop in Autonomy Kit (DAK). The DAK could provide full autonomy to any vehicle, regardless of size, make or model with just 30-60 minutes of installation time. This kit was installed across a wide variety of vehicles. It was designed for fitment into vehicles ranging from Fiat 500s to larger SUVs. It was also installed into a McLaren Spider for high speed operations.
