Driven demos AVs operating ‘safely’ in London

The Driven Consortium has completed a week-long demonstration which it says shows that autonomous vehicles (AVs) can operate safely in London - with a safety driver. Driven - a £13.6 million initiative supported by the UK government - carried out the demo around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford in the east of the city. Driven has focused on completing fully-autonomous routes within the UK capital and the city of Oxford using Oxbotica’s autonomous software. Consortium members Moninet and Axa XL p
October 7, 2019 Read time: 3 mins

The Driven Consortium has completed a week-long demonstration which it says shows that autonomous vehicles (AVs) can operate safely in London - with a safety driver.

Driven - a £13.6 million initiative supported by the UK government - carried out the demo around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford in the east of the city.

Driven has focused on completing fully-autonomous routes within the UK capital and the city of Oxford using 8307 Oxbotica’s autonomous software.

Consortium members Moninet and Axa XL provided risk management work while telecoms giant O2 handled communications.

John Aloy, managing partner, O2 travel and transport, Telefonica UK, says: “Being involved in such trials allows us to see how secure reliable communications are crucial to the success of C/AVs and helps us assess how we can support the future network demands of C/AVs and the supporting infrastructure.”

As part of the initiative, Oxfordshire County Council worked with 491 TRL, 1466 Transport for London and RACE to establish safe trials.

TRL’s market development lead for new mobility Iwan Parry says the company has been helping the insurance sector understand the evidence required to adapt insurance pricing models when underwriting C/AV trials.  

“We are also using the lessons learned from the Driven trials in the safety framework we are developing as part of the new specifications for regulating the safe conduct of technology testing on public roads in the UK,” Parry adds.

Other members include Oxford Robotics Institute and Telefonica.

In response, Rabih Arzouni, chief technology officer, transport sector, 5163 Fujitsu UK&I describes the trial as an “exciting step for the technology” on UK roads but warns that “commercial-friendly” AVs are at least a decade away.

“The technology itself is capable, but it’s the infrastructure surrounding driverless vehicles that will take years and millions in investment to introduce,” Arzouni continues. “From introducing separate roadways for driverless vehicles, to resolving issues surrounding cybersecurity and connectivity, particularly in rural areas, there are major challenges which need to be addressed.”

Arzouni claims that Fujitsu’s latest research shows only a quarter of the public would be happy to be picked up by AVs in the future, highlighting they are more concerned by the technology.

“What’s crucial to make driverless vehicles a reality is that technology companies, the government, vehicle manufacturers and transport operators cooperate to ensure that they are approached in a way that will most benefit our cities, towns and wider country, with minimal disruption,” Arzouni adds.

Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Making all vehicles autonomous could reduce traffic accidents, says report
    February 16, 2016
    The widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could bring billions of pounds to the UK economy and save hundreds of lives, according to a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is calling for urgent Government and industry action to encourage the greater use of autonomous and driverless vehicles. It also calls for urgent resolution of legislative, technological and insurance issues to help encourage the rollout of autonomous or driverless vehicles. Philippa Oldham, head of transpor
    Read More
  • Nairobi looks to ITS to ease travel problems
    December 21, 2017
    Shem Oirere looks at plans to tackle chronic congestion in the Kenyan capital. Traffic jams in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, are estimated to cost the country $360 million a year in terms of lost man-hours, fuel and pollution. According to Wilfred Oginga, an engineer with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the congestion has been exacerbated by poor regulation and enforcement of traffic rules, absence of adequate traffic management systems and poor utilisation of existing road facilities.
    Read More
  • Glasgow’s new Operations Centre has a key role in city’s future
    June 6, 2014
    David Crawford investigates a control centre with a future. Destined to play a central role in keeping the city and its transport running smoothly during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in July, the new Glasgow Operations Centre in Scotland’s largest urban centre formally went live earlier this year. The aim was to dry run its far-reaching integration of previously distinct core systems and familiarise the public with the initial phase of what will be a long-term post-event legacy. The centre brings together, i
    Read More
  • TfL trials cyclist detection
    June 5, 2015
    New world first trials would allow TfL to better cater for cyclists at key junctions Further on-street trials will take place later this year TfL now given blanket approval from DfT to install low-level cycle signals at junctions Transport for London (TfL) is to trial a new technology that will help give cyclists more time on green lights.
    Read More

Highlighted Content