Plans to build Europe’s first Smart City Mobility Center in the UK, to test and develop future transportation systems including connected and driverless cars, has been announced.
The multi-million dollar project, which will be based at the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne campus, will form a center that creates state-of-the-art autonomous technology and vehicle modular architectures, and prototype new vehicle systems.
Technology research projects at the Smart City Mobility Center will be able to benefit from regional developments of 5G being carried out by the West Midlands Combined Authority at the new £20m (US$25m) UK Mobility Data Institute.
“This is the first time in any country that such a comprehensive system is being designed and tested. This will help integrate plans for transport systems for the future that have the potential to bring significant economic benefits to transform and improve the lives of a great many people who could benefit from even safer, less congested, and more environmentally sustainable transport,” said Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, chairman of WMG, a department at the University of Warwick that provides innovative solutions to a number of industries.
The center will also bring together the research expertise of Jaguar Land Rover, which has its UK headquarters nearby at Gaydon and is currently working extensively on future vehicle technologies and autonomous driving innovations.
“Jaguar Land Rover welcomes the centre, based at the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne campus, which will create state-of-the-art electric vehicle modular architectures and integrated driverless capability to support the smart cities of the future,” said Professor Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover.
“It builds on collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover, WMG, the University of Warwick and government to develop 5G connectivity in the region – this is critical for new mobility solutions and services that will transform customer experiences in the future and make congestion, traffic accidents and emissions a thing of the past.”
“We look forward to this industry-leading project, which will develop future prototypes that put the UK at the forefront of automotive technology.”
