Armidale Regional Driverless trials resumed today and EZ10 was welcomed back onto the road after being out of service since October 28, after the vehicle detected its own mechanical fault and refused to start.

The system only lets the machine operate when all its systems are working smoothly.

Engineers were onsite this week to conduct tests before the bus recommenced operating.

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Armidale Regional Driverless trials ground to a halt last month when EZ10 (AKA "The Toaster" by some university students) broke down. It remains out of service while NSW Transport engineers diagnose and wait for parts to repair the cause of the disruption.

A spokeswoman for Transport NSW said because ARDi used cutting edge technology and conducted a number of system checks prior to and during operation, it meant it would only operate when all systems were functioning correctly.

"On Monday, October 28, the vehicle detected a mechanical fault unrelated to automation, and as a result it did not start, as it is designed to do.

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"As this is new and leading edge technology, intermittent issues are not unexpected. When issues do come up it's important we investigate and make sure the vehicle is operating properly before returning to regular service.

"Services were paused to allow technicians to investigate and resolve the issue. Engineers are on site this week ... and will then conduct tests before it recommences operations."

With $100,000 committed to the three-phase trial of the driverless shuttle service and as the future owner of the new technology, Armidale Regional Council remained unconcerned about the setback.

Mayor Simon Murray said the vehicle remained an exciting opportunity for the public and the developers of the leading edge technology.

"This is the way the future is going to go so this is an opportunity for us to further develop this technology," he said.

"It is leading edge technology, and it is a trial machine, so its not like you just go down to the shop and buy replacement parts for it, so parts for anything like this will be slow to get and I've got no qualms with that."

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