Trials with the Oxbotica’s driverless shuttle have started and will be driving around 100 people around the Greenwich, London in the next couple of weeks. The goal of this project is to see how autonomous vehicles can function safely in a natural environment surrounded by people. Another thing that GATEway is trying to gather data on is how the passengers would react to the overall experience of being transported in a computer-driven vehicle.
The data collected in these trials would give GATEway tangible evidence on how self-driving vehicles can function in an urban environment such as London.
This shuttle is designed to accommodate 4 passengers and there is no steering wheel or any other device that would allow the passengers to navigate it. Instead, it uses hi-tech cameras and laser navigation to ensure a safe drive.
In a statement, UK Climate Change and Industry Minister Nick Hurd said:
“The UK has a history of innovation in the auto sector and this type of technology has the potential to save lives as well as offer freedom to the elderly or those with mobility impairments. The GATEway project exemplifies the innovation that the UK excels at, and through our Industrial Strategy, we will continue to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of this cutting-edge work.”
Sadly not all Londoners would have a chance to try this vehicle out since all the participants in the study have been pre-selected last year. However, we hope this project will give a new perspective on the future of transport.
Source: Business Insider