Driverless Car Project Launched In Land Of The Concrete Cows

MILTON Keynes might already be famous for its concrete cows and numerous roundabouts, but soon it’ll also be known for its driverless cars.

In a project aimed at boosting green technologies, a fleet of 20 driver-operated ‘pods’ will run on designated pathways separated from pedestrians. By mid-2017 it is planned that 100 fully autonomous vehicles will run on pathways alongside people, using sensors to avoid collisions with obstacles.

The early collaborators on the project are engineering consultancy firm Arup, Transport Systems Catapult, the Automotive Council, and Cambridge and Oxford Universities.

Commenting on the scheme, John Miles, programme director and Arup Consultant, said: "With the continually increasing number of people living in cities, city authorities are facing some real challenges with regards to ensuring future levels of mobility.

"This project has the potential to deliver a truly autonomous low-carbon transport option within the context of a city centre and we're delighted to be using this funding to take the project into the first stages of design."

The government-back scheme hopes to stimulate the development of advanced and green technologies over the next decade.

By By Press Association reporters