The UK is about to start its first test of 5G-enabled autonomous vehicles
Last mile
One proof of concept already underway at the campus tracks CO2 emissions of vehicles using LIDAR sensors, with satellite imagery being used to see the areas vehicles are traveling through and monitor local biodiversity.
The laboratory team is then able to calculate the emissions savings of taking different routes based on carbon capture from nearby trees, with O2 hoping the research will inform how its retail partners carry out last mile deliveries.
Derek McManus, Chief Operating Officer, O2, said the lab is “the next step in getting autonomous vehicles on the road and making the UK’s transport network greener.”
CAV growth
Over the past two years, interest in CAV technology has grown substantially in the UK, with the government’s5G Urban Connected Communitiesscheme establishing testbeds across theWest Midlands region.
In London, theSmart Mobility Living Lab– launched in 2018 as part of a collaboration between different partners in the mobility space, including the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Transport for London, Cisco, Zenzic and DG Cities – officially opened its doors last week, hosting a virtual ribbon-cutting.
The lab uses 24 kilometers of public roads in the borough of Greenwich and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford to create a complex testing environment for businesses and public sector organizations to test future mobility options.
SHIFT is brought to you by Polestar. It’s time to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. That is why Polestar combines electric driving with cutting-edge design and thrilling performance.Find out how.
Story byCities Today
Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
