A self-driving vehicle has been tested in public for the first time in the UK.
The demonstration in Milton Keynes was coordinated by the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) and marked the completion of the LUTZ Pathfinder project, which has been running for the last 18 months.
The autonomy software running the vehicle, called Selenium, was developed by Oxford University's Oxford Robotics Institute and integrated by the university's spinout firm Oxbotica.
Selenium utlizes data from cameras and LIDAR systems to navigate its way around the environment.
The project included virtual mapping of Milton Keynes, evaluating public acceptance, carrying out the required safety planning and establishing the regulatory environment with the support of Milton Keynes Council.
Oxbotica CEO Graeme Smith said: “This is a great example of Oxbotica’s autonomy software leading the way for self-driving vehicles here in the U.K. Today’s LUTZ pathfinder trial is a landmark step to bringing self-driving vehicles to the streets of the UK and the world.
“Our unique Selenium software gives vehicles the next generation level of intelligence to safely operate in pedestrianised urban environments.
“Our leading team of UK-based scientists, mathematicians and engineers have worked incredibly hard to develop this ground-breaking technology, which is bringing self-driving vehicles yet another step closer to deployment across the world.”
As it is still a demonstration project, it was only tested on pavements near the Milton Keynes train station and a business district. The vehicle is expected to be tested on roads as a local transportation in the future.
TSC programme director Neil Fulton said: “This public demonstration represents a major milestone for autonomous vehicles in the UK and the culmination of an extensive project involving UK companies and experts.
“Oxford University’s technology will go on to power automated vehicles around the world and the LUTZ Pathfinder project will now feed into a much wider programme of autonomous trials across the UK.
“Driverless vehicles are coming to Britain and what we have demonstrated today is a huge step on that journey.”
“Through the LUTZ Pathfinder project we have started to create a world leading urban test bed for connected and automated vehicles.”
“We can now capitalise on the unique position of having the environment and the development platform to conduct further research and trials.
