Following announcements of the first public driverless shuttles and Heathrow's autonomous shuttle trials, the UK government announced eight projects have received £20 million to develop autonomous vehicle technology, including a test track for UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UKCITE).
The recently funded R&D project involves creating an environment to test connected and self-driving vehicles. This involves equipping more than 40 miles worth of roads with a combination of three advanced car talking technologies. This is in the aim to "improve journeys, reduce traffic congestion and provide entertainment and safety services through better connectivity."
The test track initiative is scheduled for a 30 month duration and is a collaborative endeavor incorporating companies such as Jaguar Land Rover Ltd, Visteon Engineering Services Limited and Vodafone Group Services Ltd.
What's Driving This Trend
- Autonomous Vehicle Technology
- Developing autonomous vehicle technology through test tracks enables the advancement of connected and self-driving vehicles.
- Connected Intelligent Transport Environment
- Creating an environment for testing connected and self-driving vehicles promotes the development of the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UKCITE).
- Car Talking Technologies
- Equipping roads with advanced car talking technologies enhances connectivity and improves journeys for autonomous vehicles.
Who This Affects Most
- Automotive
- The automotive industry can leverage test tracks to innovate and test autonomous vehicle technology.
- Information Technology
- Developing connected intelligent transport environments requires expertise from the information technology industry.
- Telecommunications
- Telecommunication companies can provide connectivity solutions for test tracks, playing a crucial role in the advancement of autonomous vehicles.
