Engineering news
‘First and last mile’ transport company Aurrigo claimed a UK milestone today (27 May) as its Auto-Shuttles officially began trials in the university city. The firm is the first in the country to test a custom-made autonomous vehicle on main roads, surrounded by other traffic.
The shuttles – able to seat 10 people once social distancing is relaxed – are fitted with an array of sensors, laser scanners and cameras which build a map of how they move through the environment. During journeys, the same sensors inform the vehicle where it is on the map, enabling it to operate fully autonomously.
The three vehicles will take passengers from the Madingley Road Park and Ride site to the University of Cambridge’s West Campus. Safety operators will be onboard, ready to take over immediately if needed.
The trial is part of an Aurrigo-led project backed by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, with Greater Cambridge Partnership and Smart Cambridge working together to explore how autonomous technology can be used on the public transport network.
Aurrigo said it anticipates that passengers ‘recruited’ for the project will be able to use an app to book pick-ups at a number of locations along the two-mile route.
“This is another major milestone in the journey towards making autonomous vehicles a reality on our roads,” said Aurrigo CEO David Keene.
“We’ve completed successful trials in city centres, in retirement complexes and at major golf tournaments, but this is the first time these vehicles will be sharing the route with everyday traffic.
“The shuttles, which have been designed and manufactured at our advanced engineering centre in Coventry, will operate the 20-minute journey around the West Cambridge route. They will run autonomously for the majority of the route using our in-house developed Auto-Stack driving software and the latest lidar and camera technology to identify potential hazards.”
The Auto-Shuttle has a range of over 190km, with a lightweight composite frame powered by a 22kW electric motor. The cabin includes space for wheelchair users, who can access the vehicle via an automatically-deployed ramp.
The trials will explore how smart technology can be used to cut congestion and improve public transport, especially for shift workers, weekend shoppers and ‘revellers’.
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