£20 million boost for autonomous drive technology

The government has announced a £20 million funding boost for research and development into the next generation of autonomous vehicles in the UK.

The money will be shared between eight new projects that will look into enhancing communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure or urban information systems, including new ‘talking car technologies’.

The projects are the first to be funded from the government’s £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund and range from new simulation trials for autonomous pods to developing autonomous shuttles to carry visually-impaired passengers.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our cars of the future will be equipped with the technologies that will make getting from A to B safer, faster, and cleaner. They will alert drivers of accidents ahead and be able to receive information from their surroundings about hazards, increasing the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

“Britain is a world-leader in research and development in such innovative technologies which improve lives and create opportunity for all. That is why this government has protected the £6 billion science budget and is providing up to £20 million for these projects.”

Roland Meister, head of transport at Innovate UK, said: “The UK is rapidly becoming one of the best places in the world for companies to develop their intelligent mobility business.

“Driven by our work with the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles this competition has connected together the UK’s fantastic automotive industry, the research base, the insurance sector, public authorities with high growth businesses working in human behavioural science, telematics, information technology, communications, simulation, advanced sensor systems and machine learning.

“Through the funding and connections Innovate UK provides we are getting intelligent mobility ideas off the drawing board and into our lives, making us more productive, creating jobs, growth and exports.”

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