Skip to main content

UK government funds connected vehicle development with a Flourish

The UK government has selected the Flourish consortium as a winner of its multi-million pound research grant to fuel development in user-centric autonomous vehicle technology and connected transport systems. The new programme, co-funded by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, will focus on the core themes of connectivity, autonomy and customer interaction. The three-year project, led by Atkins and worth US$8 million, seeks to develop products and services that maximise the benefits of connected and
February 5, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
The UK government has selected the Flourish consortium as a winner of its multi-million pound research grant to fuel development in user-centric autonomous vehicle technology and connected transport systems. The new programme, co-funded by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, will focus on the core themes of connectivity, autonomy and customer interaction.

The three-year project, led by 1677 Atkins and worth US$8 million, seeks to develop products and services that maximise the benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) for users and transport authorities.

Flourish will address vulnerabilities in the technology powering CAVs, with a focus on the critical areas of cyber security and wireless communications. The consortium will aim to develop tools that enable vehicle manufacturers and transport authorities to create a safe and secure CAV network.

The project will bring together industry and academic experts in the field of autonomous and connected systems, cyber security, data innovation and social research, and will further advance the South West region as an independent centre for the development and testing of CAVs.

Lead partner Atkins will provide project management, transport modelling and intelligent mobility expertise. Other consortium members include Airbus Group Innovations, TSS 16 Aimsun, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire County Council, 7800 Transport Systems Catapult, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, among others.

Airbus Group Innovations will provide expertise in the technology areas of model-based system engineering, cyber security, human-machine interfaces, human state monitoring and data fusion, while Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire County Council will provide on-road trials support and drive local community engagement.

TSS Aimsun will assemble a simulation test environment using its traffic modelling software that can be used for the assessment of different automated vehicle implementation scenarios from motorway to urban use.

Transport Systems Catapult will develop human-machine interfaces and provide support for simulated and real world testing.

Roland Meister, head of transport for Innovate UK said: “We’re excited by the Flourish consortium’s project and in particular, its focus on addressing cyber security vulnerabilities and the implications of connected and autonomous vehicle technology for an ageing population. This particular funding programme builds on previous government R&D investment into driverless cars and is a key part of a strategy to ensure that UK-based companies establish market-leading solutions, helping to build a strong supply chain for connected and autonomous vehicle technology and increase UK economic growth.”

Flourish, a multi-sector collaboration, is one of eight consortia that will help to advance the successful implementation of CAVs in the UK, by developing services and capabilities that link user needs and system requirements.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Teleste to enable development of smart campus applications in Thailand
    March 6, 2019
    Teleste is to help the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) in Thailand develop smart campus applications for transport and street lighting. PSU students and researchers will utilise Teleste’s advanced video management, Internet of Things and situational technologies to develop new services and applications. The project is being launched in support of the government’s Digital Thailand 4.0, an initiative which seeks to establish an economy based on digital computing technologies. Dr. Wasin Suwannarat, vi
  • Big data and open governments ‘will spur developments in smart cities’
    March 23, 2015
    Smart cities are going to be amazing community hubs that will be more sustainable, efficient and supportive of citizens, according to a new report, Australia - Smart Cities - People, Transport, Cars, Buildings from reportbuyer.com. The concept of smart communities is based on intelligent infrastructure such as broadband (FttP) and smart grids, so that connected and sustainable communities can be developed. However, they cannot be built within the silo structure that currently dominates our thinking; a holis
  • Aimsun shifts 'from software delivery to outcome-based solutions'
    June 23, 2023
    Tech firm launches suite of five products to satisfy end-to-end transport modelling
  • Strategy to connect the UK’s northern cities
    March 20, 2015
    Plans to revolutionise travel in the north, including a new TransNorth rail system and new road investments, will today be set out by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and northern city leaders. As part of building a northern powerhouse, the Chancellor established Transport for the North (TfN) to bring together northern transport authorities, and tasked it with working with government to create the first ever comprehensive tr