The Auto-Shuttle will operate on a 25-minute city centre loop connecting Santander’s new UK HQ at Unity Place with centre:mk, the Theatre District and Station Square.
LivingLAPT is funded by EIT Urban Mobility and led by University College London (UCL). The Europe-wide research trials have already been operating in Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic and are said to be the longest and most geographically complex of its kind.
Coventry-based Aurrigo International first ran its vehicles in Milton Keynes in 2014. More recently, the company took part in 5G trials in the city.
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In a statement, David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Milton Keynes to move the game on in autonomous electric vehicle deployments in real-world situations.
“The city was one of the first to work with us on trialling driverless vehicles…and we appreciate working with a forward-thinking location that is keen to demonstrate the benefits that can be brought to the citizens of Milton Keynes and the UK by a self-driving electric vehicle like ours.”
The eight-passenger Auto-Shuttle uses five lidar sensors and seven cameras to create a full 360-degree view around the vehicle and navigate along public roads. It will have an operator onboard who can take control at any time.
UCL’s research team will be in Milton Keynes to monitor the trials and to take feedback from users on how the service can be developed to meet passenger needs.
“Once again, Milton Keynes is at the forefront of a new, sustainable technology trial,” said Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, cabinet member for Climate Action and Sustainability. “This important research into self-driving vehicles on public roads is creating a template for cities around the world to follow.”
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