A project to create one of the world’s most advanced environments for connected and autonomous driving is now underway, following a successful application for funding from the UK Government’s US$1.5m (£100m) Intelligent Mobility Fund, which has been established to accelerate R&D in connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
The unique UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) project – which could see trials on public roads as early as next year – is worth a total of US$10.3m (£7.1m) (including the investment from government) and will enable automotive, infrastructure and service companies to trial connected vehicle technology, infrastructure and services in real-life conditions on 40 miles of roads within Coventry and Warwickshire.
Phase one of the project will continue until the end of 2016 and will include the preparation of infrastructure on routes along the M40, M42, A46, and A45 – as well as an urban route in Coventry – and the preparation of a vehicle, systems and gantry app, which will ensure variable roadside messages appear in-vehicle, either on the vehicle display or smartphone. Finally, pre-test trials will take place on Horiba MIRA’s city circuit.
Tony Harper, head of research and technology at Jaguar Land Rover, said, “This real-life laboratory will allow Jaguar Land Rover’s research team and project partners to test new connected and autonomous vehicle technologies on five different types of roads and junctions. Other research corridors already exist in other parts of Europe. This test route with its mixture of road types and technology deployment is challenging the technology operation in real world environments and will provide the insight needed for deployment. This test route is exactly the sort of innovative infrastructure the UK needs to compete globally.
For more information on the project click here.
6 June, 2016
