A £3m (US$3.8m) UK government-backed autonomous driving research project led by Nissan, in partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick and PAVE UK, is exploring the deployment of autonomous passenger services in the UK.
The ADventure project will launch a mobility service in Cambridge to assess how autonomous driving services can be safely introduced and used by real-world communities.
Looking beyond vehicle technology, the project will study how an autonomous mobility service can operate in a real-world environment. Working alongside local authorities, commuters and residents, the project will examine how future AD technology can create social value, improve accessibility and address local transportation challenges.
Using a specially equipped 2022 Nissan Leaf, ADventure will combine real-world testing and community engagement to shape city-ready autonomous mobility services, setting a blueprint for other communities using AD technology.
The project will focus on three key areas: designing mobility services that complement existing transport networks and meet local community needs; building passenger confidence by understanding what people need to feel informed, comfortable and included when using autonomous mobility services; and testing the technology in real-world conditions to evaluate the safety and performance of autonomous driving systems on public roads.
“This project is an important step for autonomous mobility in the UK,” said David Moss, senior vice president, research and development, Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO).
“With UK government backing, it will take autonomous vehicle research beyond central London and into another city, helping us understand how these services can work for different communities and real-life journeys.
“By developing and applying Nissan’s in-house expertise, combined with the wider knowledge from our partners, we can delve further into how self-driving vehicles can improve connectivity, accessibility and quality of everyday life.”
Professor Siddartha Khastgir, head of safe autonomy at WMG and director of PAVE UK, commented, “We are excited to be partnering with Nissan as they bring their autonomous mobility service plans to the UK.
“Applying our deep safety and user-experience expertise to the ADventure project, we will be able to co-create a safe mobility service design with the public in a way that meets both their needs and the city’s transport priorities. This remains a shared mission for all the partners and reflects the real impact autonomous driving technology can have.”
“Britain’s autonomous vehicle sector is world-class, and our Modern Industrial Strategy is bringing business and science together to support the innovators shaping the future of transport,” said Blair McDougall, minister for reindustrialisation for BIST. “By backing cutting-edge technologies with the investment they need to scale up key projects, we are backing firms like Nissan to drive growth and create jobs in every part of the UK – reinforcing Britain’s leadership in this fast-growing industry.”
ADventure will conclude with a public-road demonstration in Cambridge, showcasing how autonomous mobility services could one day support more connected, accessible and sustainable transportation systems for communities across the country.
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