A public trial of driverless cars is taking place in Britain for the first time ever today.
Testing has begun in Milton Keynes, where autonomous cars developed by Oxford Robotics Institute and one of its subsidiaries, Oxbotica, will be demonstrated.
A team of scientists from these groups have mapped out Milton Keynes’ grid roads and will be using small, two-seater electric cars which are in fact modified versions of the Renault Twizy.
These vehicles utilise cameras and LiDAR detection technology to help them navigate around the streets without driver input. The cars will actually run predominantly on the pavements of Milton Keynes.
Oxford Robotics Institute and Oxbotica, who have been working on this research project for around 18 months before today’s trial, are aiming to collect data as they discover how their cars cope with various obstacles. They’ll be looking to see how their driverless cars deal with the likes of roundabouts and pedestrianised zones.
While the test is on a small scale, it could still be seen as a step forward for the future of driverless cars, which are predicted to become far more commonplace during the next couple of decades.
The Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark, said: “Today’s first public trials of driverless vehicles in our towns is a ground-breaking moment and further evidence that Britain is at the forefront of innovation”.
