Driverless pods win SMMT Automotive Award for Innovation

The LUTZ pathfinder project to bring driverless pods to the streets of Milton Keynes has won the 2015 Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Automotive Award for Innovation.

The project, set up by Transport Systems Catapult, has developed two seater driverless pods, which are designed to provide public transport along pedestrian routes. It was announced the winner at the 99th SMMT Annual Dinner in London on 24 November.

Real world trials of the pods began on the streets of Milton Keynes this year, and hope to propel the UK to the forefront of the intelligent mobility market, boosting the country’s reputation for research and development of autonomous driving technology.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “The quality of entries was extremely high and judging was tough but we were agreed that Transport Systems Catapult should be recognised for its work in helping put Britain at the forefront of connected and autonomous vehicle development. Technologies such as these represent a huge area of growth for the UK’s automotive industry, with the potential to deliver 300,000 new jobs within the next 15 years. The LUTZ Pathfinder trial is not only an innovation in itself but will provide invaluable data, experience and learning for the whole sector.”

Steve Yianni, Transport Systems Catapult CEO, said: “This is a massive honour for the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) and for our project partners at Milton Keynes Council, RDM and Oxford Mobile Robotics Group. The TSC only began its operations in 2013, so to have already won such a prestigious national innovation award is a great tribute to the ground-breaking work that our people are carrying out together with our partners in the field of Intelligent Mobility.”

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