Driverless Cars Take to the Road in the United Kingdom
After 18 months of planning and preparation, a driverless car was finally tested in the United Kingdom this week, with the country’s first test taking place on the public roads of Milton Keynes, about 45 miles north of London.
Using an autonomous technology called Selenium, developed by Oxford University’s Oxford Robotics Institute, a two-seat, LUTZ Pathfinder electric vehicle traveled more than a mile in Milton Keynes. The Selenium technology includes cameras and LIDAR systems that allowed the car to successfully navigate its surroundings while traveling alongside other motorists and pedestrians.
“Today’s first public trials of driverless vehicles in our towns is a ground-breaking moment and further evidence that Britain is at the forefront of innovation,” said Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark. “The global market for autonomous vehicles present huge opportunities for our automotive and technology firms. And the research that underpins the technology and software will have applications way beyond autonomous vehicles.”
Neil Fulton, program director at Transport Systems Catapult, which developed the car, said, “Driverless vehicles are coming to Britain and what we have demonstrated today is a huge step on that journey.”
Driverless cars are scheduled to be tested in other parts of the U.K. in the near future.
