Autonomous Rapid Transit

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Autonomous rapid transit (ART) is a lidar-guided bi-articulated bus system intended for urban passenger transport. Developed by CRRC through CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co Ltd, it was first unveiled in Zhuzhou, China, on 2 June 2017 and entered service in 2018. Though marketed with terms such as "digital rail" (Lingang digital rail rapid transit) and "electric road", its core design consists of a multi-section articulated vehicle guided by optical sensors rather than rails. The body is composed of fixed compartments joined by articulated gangways, giving it a superficial resemblance to a rubber-tyred tram such as a translohr or GLT. The naming and marketing of ART as "rail" or "rapid transit" has been met with skepticism, with critics describing the system as a gadgetbahn. Despite the English branding as "autonomous", all ART vehicles in operation are manually speed-controlled with optical guidance assistance and are not capable of fully independent navigation. More significantly, the absence of any physical rail infrastructure undercuts its association with rail-based systems. While the aesthetic and branding attempt to align ART with trams or light rail, the operational mechanics remain those of a bus, relying entirely on public roads and lacking grade separation. Ultimately, ART falls within the category of bus or trolleybus technology, closely mirroring the function and form of bus rapid transit (BRT). Vehicles operating under ART are subject to the same regulations as conventional road traffic and must display license plates accordingly. Although the system is promoted as a modern solution to urban transit, the use of terms like "train" and "rail" may overstate its capabilities. In practice, ART functions as a guided articulated bus system, and critics argue that its key differences from traditional BRT are more cosmetic than substantive.