Driven consortium aims to trial AVs in London before Christmas

The Driven consortium, led by software provider Oxbotica, hopes to trial a fleet of autonomous vehicles (AV) in London before Christmas following successful ongoing tests in Oxford. The vehicles will map streets in the London Borough of Hounslow as part of the consortium’s plans to run a fully autonomous fleet between both cities in 2019. Oxbotica has equipped the vehicles with its autonomous software, radar, lidar sensors and onboard computers and cameras. The fleet will gather data on the contents of
November 28, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
The Driven consortium, led by software provider 8307 Oxbotica, hopes to trial a fleet of autonomous vehicles (AV) in London before Christmas following successful ongoing tests in %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Oxford false https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3-ow94e86o false false%>.


The vehicles will map streets in the London Borough of Hounslow as part of the consortium’s plans to run a fully autonomous fleet between both cities in 2019.

Oxbotica has equipped the vehicles with its autonomous software, radar, lidar sensors and onboard computers and cameras.

The fleet will gather data on the contents of street signs and the meanings of lane markings to understand each road. This process will be repeated throughout the trial to help the AVs detect how streets change in different lighting conditions, weather and seasons.

A safety driver will remain behind the steering wheel alongside an engineer who will monitor the vehicle’s functions.

Driven, which is supported by an £8.5 million grant from Innovate UK, seeks to establish fleet-wide 567 SAE Level 4 connected autonomy (meaning that the vehicle would operate independently while the driver goes to sleep or leaves their seat). Aside from Oxbotica, other members include the Oxford Robotics Institute, AXA XL, Nominet, Telefonica, TRL, the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s robotics centre RACE, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), Westbourne Communications and Transport for London (TfL).

Oxbotica has worked with the OCC and TfL to discuss the roads for the trials and to liaise with emergency services and local stakeholders in Hounslow.

Axa XL will provide insurance for the trials. Internet technology firm Nominet will test data transfer between vehicles and partners in the consortium.

Russell Haworth, CEO, Nominet, says: “Our role developing and strengthening the understanding of data flow and security within the backbone infrastructure needed for autonomous vehicles is vital if driverless cars are to become a mainstream reality.”

Charging, Tolling & RUC

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Australia and Michigan to develop safer roads and vehicle technology
    October 10, 2018
    The Australian government and the US state of Michigan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop vehicle and road systems to help improve road safety. Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development, says the agreement is part of a strategy to position Australia for safer roads through automated and connected vehicles. “This is just one way the government is promoting safer vehicles on safer roads, including for our region
    Read More
  • Autonomous shuttle passenger injured following sudden stop
    August 6, 2019
    A 76-year-old passenger travelling on an autonomous shuttle has been injured after the vehicle came to an unexpected stop, says KUTV. Gene Petrie, an employee at the Utah State Tax Commission, was thrown from his seat and hit the handrail near the door, resulting in bruising and black eyes. Charlie Roberts, spokesman for the Utah State Tax Commission, is quoted saying: “Out of the clear blue, it suddenly stopped, and it wasn’t a slow-down stop. It was a sudden stop.” Petrie went to the hospital f
    Read More
  • Australia faces tough choices over toll tags
    September 12, 2014
    With more than seven million tolling tags nearing the end of their life, delegates to ITS Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference had more than a passing interest debating possible ways forward. Rex Wright, chair of the Australian Toll Road Users’ Group, said the industry was potentially facing an AUD$100million bill over the next five years but the toll operators are committed to a unified national approach, consistent with the current interoperability.
    Read More
  • UK reviews MaaS, data and micromobility regulation
    March 27, 2019
    Mobility as a Service (MaaS), transport data and micromobility are to be the subject of new regulatory review by the UK government. Zero-emission vehicles, driverless vehicles (AVs) and drones are already under similar review. But in a document, Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy, maps out how the country’s Department of Transport will approach other mobility opportunities – and challenges. “This is the moment to reflect on what we as a society want these changes to deliver and what we want our urban
    Read More

Highlighted Content