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

  • St. Andrews gets £12m to develop EV battery
    September 10, 2019
    The UK’s University of St. Andrews has received £12 million to lead a project on the development of a sodium ion battery for electric vehicles (EV). The four-year Nexgenna project is seeking to commercialise a safe sodium ion battery which offers low cost and long cycle life. The university says the solution could enable EVs to travel further and allow electric trains to run on non-electrified lines, making rural routes in the Scottish Highlands commercially viable. The funding body announced the inve
  • CARTES SECURE CONNEXIONS 2014: ‘Users on the move’
    November 3, 2014
    A warm welcome from Isabelle Alfano, exhibition director, CARTES SECURE CONNEXIONS Network ‘Users on the move’ is the central theme of this year’s show. A great number of services, devices and systems are built around a new way of life made to fit users’ mobility.
  • Orange County to manage traffic with trial interoperable CCTV
    September 12, 2014
    Interoperable CCTV can provide early warning of problems and help improve traffic management and incident response as Morteza Fahrtash and Carlos Ortiz explain. California’s transportation system is one of the state’s defining features and Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) strives to improving mobility across the state through the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the network of highway, freeways, toll roads and expressways.
  • Bangkok combats pollution with city toll 
    October 1, 2020
    Road pricing is part of Thailand’s Clean Mobility Programme