The latest in a series of autonomous technology trials taking place in Greenwich saw groceries delivered across the borough – in what has been described as a UK first.
The 10-day trial, part of the TRL-led GATEway Project, aimed to demonstrate the use of autonomous vehicles for ‘last mile’ deliveries and mobility, ‘seamlessly’ connecting existing distribution and transport hubs with residential and commercial areas.
The trial was carried out in conjunction with Ocado Technology, a division of Ocado – the world’s largest online-only supermarket, and featured the first use of the autonomous ‘CargoPod’ vehicle.
CargoPod, developed by Oxbotica as part of the GATEway Project, is guided by a ‘state-of-the-art’ autonomy software system, enabling ‘real-time, accurate navigation, planning and perception in dynamic environments’. The pod is able to carry a total of 128kg of groceries at a time.
The study focussed on the commercial opportunities of self-driving technology, and how the technology functions alongside people in a residential environment. It wass the third of four GATEway trials designed to explore public perceptions and understanding of driverless delivery vehicles.
It is hoped the study will help guide the wider roll out of autonomous vehicles which may play an important role in cutting inner city congestion and air pollution.
Launched in 2016, the GATEway Project is a research programme, led by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and funded by government and industry.
Simon Tong, principal research scientist (TRL) and technical lead for the GATEway Project, said:
“This trial provides an ideal platform to help us understand how and where these vehicles could best operate and whether people would accept, trust and like them as an automated delivery service in the city.
“We envisage that cities could benefit massively if deliveries could be made by quiet, zero emission, automated vehicles when congestion is minimal.”
Councillor Sizwe James, cabinet member for transport, economy and smart cities at Greenwich Council, said:
“The Royal Borough of Greenwich is one of the UK’s leaders in smart city innovation and we are proud to be working alongside our partners to be at the forefront in this new age of driverless technology.
“With Digital Greenwich spearheading this work forwards, we are gaining new insights into how connected and autonomous vehicles, including automated light delivery vehicles, will impact on the city and what cities need to do to capture the opportunities they can bring.”
03 July 2017