UK’s First Self-Driving Shuttle Bus Picks Up Ridicule Over Its Design
Image via Greater Cambridge Partnership
Last week, the UK’s first autonomous shuttle bus took to the streets, but the reactions to it weren’t what its creators were expecting.
Featuring a British flag motif, the bus by driverless tech company Aurrigo certainly stands out in its blue, red, and white. Furthermore, it arguably resembles something out of the Transformers franchise – bulky and angry-looking.
Instead of lauding the vehicle’s self-driving capabilities, social media users had more to say about its design as it cruised the streets of Cambridge.
GREAT to see our new autonomous electric shuttle being used as the face of a new UK Gov ad campaign #innovation #autonomousvehicles #greatbritain pic.twitter.com/wzUNqR9MV1
— Aurrigo - Driverless Technology (@aurrigotech) January 27, 2021
Locals took to Twitter to discuss the milestone technology launch, though much of the conversation was inevitably focused on how the bus looked. From calling it an “angry Pokémon” to “something spat out by a Decepticon,” several had a laugh at the dystopian-looking vehicle.
Here are some of the funniest takes Twitter had to offer.
When the game loads the low poly LOD model but never loads the high poly version. https://t.co/pVgHqcGMuQ
— Gordon Little (@gordlittle) May 28, 2021
Did it already crash or why does it look like that?
— Herr von und zu Richter (@JaMussSein) May 28, 2021
This is a Decepticon if ever I saw one https://t.co/gJJ6HQSoQ8
— Danielle Partis (@DaniellePartis) May 28, 2021
It looks extremely pissed off
— Eleanora ⚢ (@eleleanora) May 28, 2021
People are talking about the paint work, but what I think is nice is that they've made it extra safe by making every edge on the front of it sharp. It's basically a driverless open baked bean tin on wheels!
— LukE (@lukecole78) May 28, 2021
Why oh why do all autonomous vehicles get built to look like something spat out by a decepticon 🥴
— JJ. (@JackJack_IOT) May 27, 2021
It looks like an angry Pokemon.
— Dr. (not medical) Peradventure 😷 (@Peradventur3) May 27, 2021
What's with the sharp edges? Is it half of a bigger bus that's been sawn in 2?
— Harry💙the💙Dirty💙Dog (@mpharrisonHarry) May 28, 2021
[via TNW, cover image via Greater Cambridge Partnership]
