In a significant advancement for urban transport, Milton Keynes is gearing up to trial autonomous shuttles in its city centre, with advanced mapping already in progress. This initiative, known as the Street Connected and Autonomous Vehicles project, is spearheaded by Milton Keynes City Council in collaboration with Smart City Consultancy and several other partners.
The shuttles, which are designed to be fully accessible, will have the capacity to carry up to eight passengers. The operation will involve multiple pick-up and drop-off points around the city centre, fundamentally aiming to enhance the public transport infrastructure in the area.
The mapping phase of the project is currently underway, with vehicles being driven between Unity Place and Midsummer Place. This essential data-gathering exercise is a precursor to the shuttle trial, which is slated to begin as early as next month. During this period, passengers will have the opportunity to ride the shuttles free of charge on city centre roads. Should the initial trial prove successful, it could set a precedent for similar shuttle services throughout the UK.
The autonomous vehicles for this project are supplied by New Zealand firm Ohmio, which has established its UK headquarters in Milton Keynes. The vehicles are specifically designed to navigate densely populated urban areas while operating at low speeds, below 15mph. They will be governed from a newly created control room situated in the city centre, where the operation will be supervised remotely. For the safety of passengers, each shuttle will initially include a fully trained safety operator on board, prepared to intervene if necessary.
This pioneering initiative has also contributed to the local economy, creating approximately 15 high-tech jobs in Milton Keynes and recruiting several recent graduates from Cranfield University to support the project's advancement.
For those keen on further insights, an interview regarding the project is available on Highways Voices, recorded during the LCRIG Innovation Festival.
Source: Noah Wire Services