Driverless Shuttle Buses Take to the Snowy Test Tracks of Minnesota

Details of the ongoing testing and experimentation of an autonomous shuttle bus called Minnie at a facility north of the Twin Cities.

1 minute read

December 25, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cars in the snow

Juanan Barros Moreno / Shutterstock

"Winter driving in Minnesota presents some challenges for the technology underpinning autonomous vehicles, much of it being developed by companies in temperate Silicon Valley, and tested in sunnier climes," reports Greta Kaul.

There's a test to prove it too. As Kaul reports, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is testing an autonomous shuttle bus affectionately nicknamed "Minnie," at a facility near Albertville. Conditions in Minnesota and other northern states will determine the future feasibility of autonomous vehicles. "It’s important, [Minnesota Department of Transportation officials] say, that conditions like snow, salt-caked cars and black ice are considered by both manufacturers and policymakers as cars start to drive themselves."

So far, Minnie has encountered difficulties with snowbound conditions. For instance, road salt blocks sensors. 3M "is working with MnDOT on the shuttle project, is helping to develop films that protects the sensors," according to Kaul. There's also falling snow: "LIDAR is a very sophisticated form of technology, but it can be foiled by precipitation," explains Kaul. Snow is a particularly good reflector of infrared laser light, too.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 in MinnPost

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

30 minutes ago - Minnesota Reformer

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

1 hour ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit