Plans for a ‘world-leading, real world test environment’ for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in Greenwich have been unveiled, after the project was awarded Government funding.
A consortium led by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) will receive £13.4m to develop the Smart Mobility Living Lab (SMLL) – an environment where ‘innovators can exchange ideas and develop solutions’.
TRL says the SMLL will have access to a ‘critical mass of entrepreneurial talent in all the relevant sectors’ – from science and engineering to digital, media, insurance and the financial markets.
The funding for the project is being provided from the Government’s £100m UK CAV test bed competitive fund, which has been set up to develop a coordinated national platform of CAV testing infrastructure.
Paul Zanelli, TRL, said:
“This exciting project will see us working closely with industry to develop the evidence case for bringing new products and services to market, and with local and national governments to address the challenges and opportunities of future mobility. This will ensure we gain the benefits and minimise the pain of change.
“At the heart of the Living Lab will be continuous engagement with the public, to help facilitate a greater understanding of the implications of autonomous technology and enable them to have their say during this huge transition in urban mobility.”
19 October 2017