INNOVATION Conigital POD prototype which encompasses the usability of AI and the Siri equivalent; ’Gemma’ app
Conigital have a design of a POD prototype based upon the current Heathrow pod, which encompasses the usability of AI and the Siri equivalent; ’Gemma’ app. The AI is equipped with environmental technology to detect your presence, location, destination and lifestyle activities either by touch or voice and uses these to determine your preference. These are evolutionary changes that will impact accessibility for all including the visually impaired and elderly community. These solutions will be trialed through the Capri, Insight and Synergy projects.
providers, vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure providers. MCAV aims to be a forum for networking, knowledge sharing and promoting the opportunities of driverless vehicles. This initiative has been highly successful and Conigital is looking forward to welcoming the Mayors of the West Midlands and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to their dinner and seminar at Innovation Birmingham’s iCentrum building on 8th March.
LINKING THE MIDLANDS
We live in exciting times where the lines between science fiction and science fact have become blurred, and we are keen to build on the investment Midland businesses have received from Innovate UK to help continue on developing our regional economy and investments in people and skills. Mayor of Birmingham, Andy Street, has made it clear that cluster events like MCAV, are vital for the advancement of the West Midlands. In a recent interview, the Mayor expressed excitement for the MCAV event and explained how he sees
I N D U S T RY L E D I N I T I AT I V E S
As well as government led initiatives, there are also industry led initiatives to promote driverless vehicles. Conigital has set up The Midlands Connected Autonomous Vehicle (MCAV), for example. MCAV has been set up to support and introduce existing and new businesses entering the CAV market. This includes organisations such as local and national government; insurance
autonomous vehicles bringing a huge benefit to the safety of our cities. “This [MCAV] is critical to the West Midlands’ economic future, and we stand absolutely ready to seize the opportunity here to make sure that young people across Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country, can think about jobs in this sector for years to come.” The MCAV cluster event sees Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer, in attendance. James Palmer aims to connect the Midlands’ links with cluster events like MCAV. The Mayor has envisioned a connected Cambridge with a word class transport system that links towns and science parks together. In an interview with Cambridge Wireless, James Palmer said; “I think it [MCAV] is an exciting opportunity - it’s a way that we’re linking together for future growth and prosperity of the whole area.” ■
For further information on MCAV visit: www.mcav.org.uk
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Victor Wouk, ‘Godfather of the Hybrid’, built the first full-powered, fullsize hybrid vehicle for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program
1997
William Morrison built the first successful US electric automobile but by 1920 the discovery of Texas crude oil saw petrol engines swamp the market
1972
American Thomas Davenport, inventor of the DC electric motor, is credited with building the first practical electric vehicle - a small locomotive
1891
1835
The history of the electric vehicle In Japan, Toyota unveils the Prius, the world’s first commercially massproduced and marketed hybrid car, selling 18,000 units in year one