Coventry University is progressing the Solihull and Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project with its next phase, SCALE 2, expanding the service to a longer 7km route between Birmingham International rail station and Birmingham Business Park.
The project was initially launched earlier this year and aims to explore the use of autonomous vehicles in busy urban areas through the employment of three fully electric, self-driving shuttles running a route around the NEC during major events.
The shuttles, which will now extend their services to include a longer route, are capable of carrying up to 14 passengers, and are fitted with cameras and sensors that allow them to detect their surroundings, as well as navigate live traffic.
University researchers from the Centre for Future Transport and Cities will use the project to explore how to safely and effectively support the shuttles from a remote operations centre, as well as assess how well the shuttle systems are able to withstand cyber-attacks and attempts to interfere with their operations.
Coventry University researchers will also study how operators can best monitor and assist the shuttles remotely.
Professor Stewart Birrell, Director of Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities, said:Whilst our automated shuttle used on SCALE2 is full of technology to ensure it can safely navigate busy public spaces, the limiting factor for the use of these vehicles has, and will always be, public trust in the technology. Whether this be trust that it won't be hacked, trustworthy operation without an onboard driver, or trust to use a vehicle late at night. Our research will support the rollout of automated shuttles that are safe, secure and trusted by people.
The project has been funded by the UK Government’s Connected and Automated Mobility Pathfinder, which is part of a wider 150 million GBP initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of connected and automated mobility technologies across the UK.
