Milton Keynes leads Europe's longest self-driving bus trial
'Pioneering city' showcases innovation with advanced autonomous shuttle in LivingLAPT project
Milton Keynes has been selected to host the longest and most geographically complex self-driving bus trial in Europe.
It's part of the LivingLAPT project, led by University College London (UCL) and funded by EIT Urban Mobility.
Councillor Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Sustainability, expressed the city's role as a living laboratory for emerging technology trials, stating, "Once again, Milton Keynes is at the forefront of a new, sustainable technology trial. This important research into self-driving vehicles on public roads is creating a template for cities around the world to follow."
The autonomous shuttle, operated by UK-based transport technology specialist Aurrigo, boasts five lidar sensors and seven cameras, offering a 360-degree view to navigate safely along public roads. CEO of Aurrigo, David Keene, highlighted the city's forward-thinking approach, stating, "We appreciate working with a forward-thinking, innovative city that is keen to demonstrate the benefits that can be brought to citizens of Milton Keynes and across the UK by a self-driving electric vehicle like the Auto-Shuttle."
Professor Bani Anvar, Lead of LivingLAPT at UCL, described the trial as an "exciting blend of cutting-edge science and automotive innovation," emphasizing the project's aim to push the boundaries of autonomous vehicles while maintaining safety and trust.
The trial, running throughout November, will see the autonomous shuttle navigate a city center loop, connecting Santander’s new UK HQ at Unity Place with center:mk, the Theatre District, and Station Square. UCL's research team will be closely monitoring the trial, engaging with users to gather insights on how to enhance the service to meet passenger needs.
Additionally, Professor Anvar outlined the broader scope of the European journey, stating, "Our European journey is pushing the boundaries of autonomous vehicles, aiming to reduce the need for human safety operators while fine-tuning the intricate balance of safety and trust."