A self - driving bus created to transport residents across Milton Keynes is set to hit city roads next month.
StreetCAV is a ‘plug-and-play’ driverless shuttle that has been developed by a consortium of private and public sector organisation, supported by funding from Zenzic’s CAM Supply Chain UK programme.
The bus will hit roads in Milton Keynes early next month, and if successful, residents could begin utilising the service as early as next year.
Smart City Consultancy (SMCCL) is the company leading the project, which it hopes will become a blueprint for UK-wide deployment.
Ian Pulford, CEO at SMCCL, said: “The StreetCAV project has been going for some time now so we are absolutely thrilled that it is finally at a stage where we can reveal it to the world.
“Thanks to the partners we’ve been fortunate to involve in the project, we truly believe we have developed a solution which can change the future of urban mobility while making our towns and cities smarter, greener, and more inclusive.
"We have also worked rigorously to ensure public safety. Working closely with Milton Keynes City Council, BT and ECS, we will establish a city centre control room, connected by a specifically designed communications network, provided by CableFree, which will in-turn allow the Ohmio vehicles to be supervised and managed remotely.
“It really has been a fantastic project to work on and we can’t thank all of our partners and funders enough for their continued work and support.”
Zenzic was set up by industry and the government to help the UK become a world-leader in the development and deployment of self-driving and connected vehicles.
Over the last few years, the organisation has provided over £100million in funding to scores of projects through its programmes, as well as helping set up the CAM UK Testbed.
Mark Cracknell, program director at Zenzic, said: “We are proud to have supported the development of StreetCAV and to have worked with all of the partners involved in this pioneering project.
“Should the trial prove a success, it could lay the foundations for a more connected, inclusive, and resilient transportation network not only for Milton Keynes, but for towns and cities across the globe.
“It is a perfect example of how, by working more collaboratively and bringing together industry, academia and the public sector, the UK can lead the way in accelerating the self-driving revolution.”
The other partners involved in the StreetCAV project are Milton Keynes City Council, Ohmio, CableFree, BT and Electronics Computers and Systems.
