Manufacturer RDM Group will be showcasing the country’s first driverless pods - made in the Midlands - today.
The electric-powered LUTZ Pathfinder pod, built by the Warwickshire company, was presented to the public outside of Milton Keynes Central train station today as part of a pioneering project to trial autonomous and automated vehicles in pedestrianised areas.
Members of the Transport Systems Catapult project team were on hand today, Tuesday, to answer any questions on the project and how the pods work.
After today’s events, the two-seater pod will be delivered to Oxford University’s Mobile Robotics Group (MRG) to begin the installation of the pod’s autonomous control system (ACS).
Following the installation work, the pod will undergo a series of calibration tests at a private test track before returning to Milton Keynes for the start of the public trials.
At that stage, the pods will be the first fully automated vehicles to be trialled on public pedestrianised areas in the UK.
Steve Yianni, Transport Systems Catapult CEO, said: “When you consider that there wasn’t even a design in place for this vehicle less than 18 months ago, it has been a really quick turnaround to now have our first research vehicle ready to start work, and this has only been possible as a result of our successful collaboration with RDM, MRG and Milton Keynes Council.”
He added: “Safety has been our paramount concern throughout the planning process, which is why we will continue to have a human operator at the wheel for the duration of the trial.
“But the LUTZ Pathfinder project is an important first step towards a future where self-driving vehicles can be called up on demand, as and when people need them.”
David Keene, RDM Group chief executive, said: “Today represents an exciting stage for the LUTZ Pathfinder project and is a key milestone for RDM.
“We continue to develop our autonomous pod platform, which has worldwide applications within many transportation sectors.
“The project is enabling the autonomous vehicles to be tested and evaluated in their intended environment.”
