Driverless cars in the UK ‘in just THREE YEARS’: Government ploughs £25million into three autonomous vehicle trials for 2021
- Self-driving cars set to ‘revolutionise’ the way we move goods and people
- From 2021 the public will get to experience the future of driver-less cars
- Trials are already under way in parts of the UK, including Bristol, Coventry, Greenwich and Milton Keynes
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Three autonomous vehicle projects are set to receive backing from a share of a £25 million government fund, as the UK edges one step closer to making self-driving cars a reality.
The new cars are set to ‘revolutionise’ the way Brits travel across the country and could even help to improve transport services for those who struggle to access public transport.
All of the new projects will include social behavioural research in order to understand how driverless technology can be seamlessly integrated into society.
The findings will then be applied to the development for future autonomous service models.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark is set to announce the public trials in Oxford, after trying a self-driving vehicle firsthand, which is being tested around the city.
Autonomous vehicle trials are already under way in parts of the UK (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
‘Self-driving cars will revolutionise the way we move goods and people around the UK,’ Mr Clark said.
‘These Industrial Strategy projects and investments are exciting examples of our long-term plan in action – ensuring we build on our strengths to reap the rewards as we accelerate towards our ambition to have autonomous vehicles on UK roads by 2021.
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‘Autonomous vehicles and their technology will not only revolutionise how we travel, it will open up and improve transport services for those who struggle to access both private and public transport.
‘The UK is building on its automotive heritage and strengths to develop the new vehicles and technologies and from 2021 the public will get to experience the future for themselves.’
The MP will be taken in a test vehicle run by autonomous vehicle software company Oxbotica, the first person outside its technical team to try the autonomous mode on the streets of the UK. Co-founder Paul Newman will travel alongside, explaining how the system works.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark (pictured) will announce the public trials in Oxford
The Government’s Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles was established in 2015, in a bid to make the UK a world leader in self-driving technology, with £250 million, match-funded by industry, being invested so far.
Trials are already under way in parts of the UK, including Bristol, Coventry, Greenwich and Milton Keynes.
‘The UK is a world leader in transport innovation, and our work on the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge will ensure this long continues,’ said future of mobility minister Jesse Norman.
‘Automated driving technology is advancing rapidly, and the UK market for connected and autonomous vehicles is forecast to be worth up to £52 billion by 2035.
‘This pioneering technology will bring significant benefits to people right across the country, improving mobility and safety, and driving growth across the UK.’
IS APPLE DEVELOPING ITS OWN SELF-DRIVING CAR?
Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems.
Apple officially secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California on April 14.
Rumours have been sweeping the web since last year that Apple was toying with the idea of developing its own self-driving car.
But Apple executives have been coy about their interest in the vehicles.
Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems.
He has called autonomous vehicles the ‘mother of all’ artificial intelligence projects.
Apple’s secretive fleet of ‘Project Titan’ self-driving cars has almost doubled in the first few months of 2018.
It expanded its self-driving test fleet from 27 vehicles to more than 50 cars and is testing some of them in California.
There has been no public announcement as to if the company will be creating their own vehicles, but Cook did say in 2017 that Apple will be focusing on software for pre-existing vehicles.
One of Apple’s self-driving test cars, called ‘The Thing,’ has six LIDAR — or light detection and ranging — sensors situated on top to help the car ‘see’ its surroundings.
A wider roll-out has yet to be announced.
Apple has established a partnership with Volkswagen to develop self driving vans to shuttle Apple employees around its campus.
In self-driving cars, LIDAR sensors constantly scan the surrounding areas looking for information and acting as the ‘eyes’ of the car
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