Skip to main content

South Australian government announces first round of autonomous technology funding

Seven projects will share in US$4.2 million (AU$5.6 million) from the first round of funding from the South Australian government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund to drive local development of autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous cargo pods for the Tonsley Innovation Precinct and driverless shuttles for Flinders University students are also among the projects to win funding, with other projects to be announced soon. Transfers between Adelaide Airport’s terminal and long-term car park are set to go driv
March 24, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Seven projects will share in US$4.2 million (AU$5.6 million) from the first round of funding from the South Australian government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund to drive local development of autonomous vehicle technology.

Autonomous cargo pods for the Tonsley Innovation Precinct and driverless shuttles for Flinders University students are also among the projects to win funding, with other projects to be announced soon.

Transfers between Adelaide Airport’s terminal and long-term car park are set to go driverless with the US$2.1million (AU$2.8 million) trial of a driverless shuttle. Adelaide Airport will receive US$762,000 (AU$1 million) from the fund to trial three electric driverless shuttles operating between the long-term car park and the terminal. If the trial is successful, the driverless shuttles will be become a permanent part of its operations.

International driverless car supplier RDM Group will also receive US$762,000 (AU$1 million) towards a driverless cargo pod trial, transporting goods at the city’s Tonsley precinct, with the aim of developing a market-ready autonomous delivery pod within a year. The project will involve pods similar to the Pod Zero launched in 2016, which will be modified to carry global standard air freight containers. The UK-based company opened its Asia-Pacific headquarters at the Tonsley Business Precinct in January.

Another US$762,000 (AU$1 million) will go to Flinders University, which will collaborate with the RAA on a three-year driverless shuttle project. Initially the vehicle will shuttle students around the Tonsley campus, with future plans to extend to the Bedford Park campus and local public transport hubs.

Related Content

  • UK government to invest in autonomous cars, low emission vehicles
    November 24, 2016
    Presenting his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced investment in transportation, including £390 million for future transport and a major new investment in the UK transport infrastructure. The £390 million investment in future technology includes: investment in testing infrastructure for driverless cars; provision of at least 550 new electric and hydrogen buses, reduce the emissions of 1,500 existing buses and support taxis to become zero emission; installation of more charging points fo
  • ITF diagnoses South Asia’s breathing difficulties
    August 26, 2022
    One of the world’s fastest-growing regions faces major transport sector decisions if it is to avoid spiralling emissions problems in coming decades. Alan Dron takes a look at a new report on Asia from the International Transport Forum
  • Government to reform strategic road network in England
    July 17, 2013
    The national network of motorways and trunk roads in England will get extra lanes, smoother, quieter surfaces, improved junctions and new sections in key areas under a plan launched this week by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. £28 (US$42.5) billion of investment, which includes a trebling of funding for motorways and major A-roads, will lead to the biggest ever upgrade of the existing network. The focus will be on cutting congestion and minimising the environmental impact of roads, including an extr
  • Better websites build smarter transport participation
    March 17, 2017
    Transport initiatives are gaining traction through well-designed websites. Four European smart transport-oriented websites have gained honours in the 2016 .eu Web Awards, an online competition inaugurated in 2014 to recognise the most impressive sites within the .eu internet domain in terms of their design and content. The four were among 15 finalists across all five categories of the scheme, giving the transport sector a high profile for its proactive use of sites as communications tools for driving major