PREVIEW

Designs have been unveiled for a public transport shuttle bus inspired by bubbles.

Named "Bubblic Public," the innovative transportation solution is a self-driving, on-demand public vehicle that functions as a multipurpose carriage on the road.

Created by a team of designers in South Korea, the futuristic vehicle can be customised to fit the city’s evolving needs.

Similar to bubbles, Bubblic Public can appear unexpectedly and serve different commuters and users in various locations as requested. The vehicle's design features a flexible interior and exterior. Its interior comprises modular units, allowing easy conversion from benches and seats for passengers to trays for transporting plants and goods.

Bubblic Public's chassis draws inspiration from bamboo systems and incorporates inflatable airbags known as ‘bubbles.’ These bubbles, crafted from thermoplastic polyurethane, form gentle slopes on the vehicle's frame. They are movable and easily replaceable, facilitating maintenance and repairs. The design includes placing these bubbles in areas frequently touched by passengers, such as walls and seat cushions, providing comfort and protection.

The vehicle manager, or anyone overseeing its operation, can reconfigure the seating layout inside Bubblic Public thanks to a seat matrix integrated into the floor. An accompanying app enables users to join a rideshare group or access the nearest available Bubblic Public vehicle.

Bubblic Public is designed to travel alongside conventional vehicles on standard roads. It requires minimal infrastructure and is intended to have no adverse impact on existing systems. The modular design and flexible chassis enhance maintenance efficiency and adaptability to varying needs.

The vehicle features multiple entry and exit points at the front, back, and sides. These points open at stops, with the air suspension lowering the vehicle and ramps extending out. These ramps accommodate wheelchairs, bicycles, and other wheeled items, ensuring accessibility for all users.

For goods and package deliveries, the seats inside Bubblic Public can be retracted to create space for shelves and drawers. The vehicle's self-driving technology uses localisation to detect and pick up commuters or users autonomously.

Bubblic Public was conceptualised by a team of researchers at ID KAIST under the guidance of Professor Hyunjoon Park. Jungwoo Kim and Geunyong Park, graduate students from the ID+IM Lab, led the project as part of the Mobility Design course.

It is currently in the concept phase. Although research and testing are ongoing, Move Lab believes Bubblic Public will be more adaptable, and environmentally friendly than traditional public transportation.