135K
plug-in vehicles are now used across the UK
GOVERNMENT S U P P O RT
The UK Government is an active supporter of the industry. The Chancellor, Philip Hammond pledged in the November 2017 budget, that there would be self-driving vehicles on the road in 2021. An importance intervention in making this pledge a reality, is the ‘Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill’, which will introduce major changes to motor insurance provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to include strict liability on motor insurers where automated vehicles drive themselves. This bill is of great importance, as it creates the framework for vehicle manufactures to bring innovation to the UK market and encourages industry and Government to mutually support the advancement of UK transport infrastructure. The Government has also set up the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). This group works with industry to ensure the UK is at the forefront of development within transport technology. As part of the Industrial Strategy, CCAV is investing in skills, research and infrastructure to guarantee the UK remains competitive in this sector, ensuring the advancement of automotive engineering and the continuation to work together and solve transport challenges. Iain Forbes, the Head of CCAV “noted that CCAV are investing £100 million, to be matched by industry match-funding, in testing upgrades to ensure we’ve got the ecosystem to enable this technology to be developed here in the UK.”
The GATEway project, Driverless Pod
The GATEway project of Greenwich comprises Fusion Processing (autonomous mapping and trajectory planning), Westfield Sports cars (design and testing) and Heathrow Enterprises (vehicle software engineering). The aim of the project is to take prototype pods that currently run on fixed tracks and make them fully autonomous. In operation for the past 18 months, the project includes trials allowing passengers to experience the pods. Prof Nick Reed of TRL states that: “Each company brings a great deal of experience to the project which will prove valuable in helping us to understand how the public and industry will adapt to the use of automated vehicles in the UK Smart Mobility Living Lab test environment in Greenwich”.
UK Autodrive has been running for over two years and is due to complete in October 2018. It includes vehicles from RDM, Ford JLR and Tata. The first trials took place at the HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in October 2016. During this year, autonomous and connected cars and pods will become a regular sight in Milton Keynes and Coventry. Autonomous Project Motorcycle Synergy will the BMW C1 showcase three GTM vehicles platooning between Stockport train station and Manchester airport along a brand new road called the A6SEMMS. The vehicles will demonstrate a concierge service (GEMMA), connected services such as social media access and on-line check-ins for flights, e-commerce activities including purchasing from duty free and higher fuel efficiency between vehicles. The £4.7m project will also develop tailored cyber security, wireless communications and enhanced levels of autonomy for the CAV industry.
Some of the projects and companies funded through CCAV include:
UK Central Testbed sees roads in Coventry and Birmingham form a testbed for developing the next generation of connected and autonomous (CAV) vehicles, thanks to a new programme of investment being led by WMG at the University of Warwick. The pioneering venture, undertaken by a consortium of research and industry partners, will make UK roads ready for CAVs by developing wireless networks that will analyse how vehicles behave in real urban environments incorporating the public.
The MOVE_UK programme, a government and industry collaboration, helps build expertise within self-driving technology and is supporting a clean growth agenda. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said, “Low carbon and self-driving vehicles are the future and the UK is determined to be one of the leaders in this technological revolution.”
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