With ROBERTA (“Real World Automated Bus opERaTion Austria”), Austria is entering a new phase of automated driving in public transport. For the first time, highly automated Level‑4 buses in vehicle categories M2/M3 with more than eight seats will be deployed in regular public service. The vehicles will operate in four federal provinces – across urban, suburban and rural areas – and will be scientifically monitored under real‑world conditions.

The core focus is on real‑life operation with specially trained safety personnel on board, complemented by appropriate remote‑supervision systems tailored to Austrian framework conditions. For further details, see: ROBERTA: Austria’s flagship project for highly automated Level‑4 buses |

• ROBERTA: Österreichs Leitprojekt für hochautomatisierte Busse Level 4 | Automotivelaw

My role in the ROBERTA project

Due to my specialisation in automated driving, I serve as the sole legal project partner within the Austria‑wide ROBERTA consortium. I advise the project on all legal and regulatory issues arising in connection with the planning, pilot operation and subsequent scaling of highly automated public bus services.

My work focuses in particular on analysing the existing legal framework for the deployment of highly automated buses in public transport, identifying legal risks at an early stage and developing concrete proposals for adapting or further developing the applicable regulatory framework. My expertise in automated driving, product liability, data protection and compliance is thus directly integrated into one of Austria’s most significant current mobility projects. The overarching goal is to enable a legally robust, responsible and practically workable deployment of highly automated buses in regular public service.

Legal focus of my work

The legal support for ROBERTA is closely aligned with the project’s technical and operational cornerstones, in particular the planned routes and the use of connected fleet and remote‑management systems. Key areas include:

– data‑protection requirements for video surveillance and for the broader data ecosystem of highly automated bus systems

– data security and cybersecurity in the operation of connected fleets, in remote‑management environments and in charging‑ and depot‑management systems

– liability, allocation of responsibilities and clarification of roles between manufacturers, operators, infrastructure providers, safety personnel and other stakeholders

– issues of operating permits as well as the interpretation and further development of the Austrian AutomatFahrVO and other relevant legal instruments

The aim is to ensure that technological innovation and the regulatory framework are properly aligned, so that the introduction of highly automated buses takes place on a stable legal foundation.

Project facts and pilot regions

ROBERTA is supported by a broad consortium of research institutions, technology companies, energy agencies and public transport operators. The project is coordinated by the Logistikum at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. It started in February 2026 and is scheduled to run until 31 January 2030. During the first project year, the basis for real‑world operations is being developed; pilot operations in the four federal provinces are planned from late 2027 / early 2028 onwards.

The total project volume amounts to around nine million euros. As an FFG project, ROBERTA receives approximately 3.5 million euros in federal funding from the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, supplemented by funding from the Province of Upper Austria (subject to approval by the regional parliament), additional public contributions and in‑kind resources from project partners.

The four pilot regions at a glance:

– Upper Austria – Hagenberg / Pregarten: Last‑mile connection from Pregarten railway station to the Softwarepark Hagenberg and the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.

– Tyrol – Innsbruck, Rossau industrial area: Inner‑city route improving access to workplaces and commercial areas.

– Styria – AREA Süd, Weststeiermark station (Koralmbahn): Feeder buses to the Koralmbahn, connecting surrounding residential and commercial areas.

– Carinthia – AREA Süd, St. Paul im Lavanttal station (Koralmbahn): Feeder buses to the Koralmbahn, strengthening regional mobility in a rural environment.

Consortium and partners

The ROBERTA consortium brings together strong partners from research, industry and public transport, including: Logistikum – University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, ALP.Lab GmbH, ANDATA, Business Upper Austria / Automotive Cluster, DigiTrans GmbH, Grazer Energieagentur, Graz‑Köflacher Bahn und Busbetrieb GmbH, KEBA Group, Bosch Österreich, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, Austrian Road Safety Board, SCCH Software Competence Center Hagenberg, Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, Wilhelm Welser Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH and Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe und Stubaitalbahn GmbH, among others.

This interdisciplinary collaboration makes it possible to bring technological innovation, operational reality and the legal framework together in a single flagship project, and thereby to take an important step towards automated, safe and sustainable mobility in Austria.

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