Aurrigo is using its fleet of Pod Zeros to showcase an autonomous first/last mile transport solution, marking the culmination of the UK Autodrive project. The project was created with the aim of establishing the UK as a global hub for the development of autonomous vehicle technology.
The project seems to be on track, as two international distribution agreements have been secured with partners in Singapore and Vietnam to start selling Aurrigo vehicles in Asia.
“Being involved as the lead partner in UK Autodrive has transformed our business and given us the opportunity to test our technology alongside some of the world’s largest manufacturers in Jaguar Land Rover, TATA and Ford,” explained Miles Garner, sales and marketing director at Aurrigo.
“The trials in Milton Keynes have proved we have advanced autonomous technology that works in a live public environment and pods that can provide that crucial first and last mile transport solution for towns and cities throughout the world.”
He continued: “We need to take advantage of being first to market and we are already in discussions with a number of potential customers to take our pods for use on University campuses, theme parks, shopping malls and retirement villages.
“The potential is huge, and we are projecting a substantial increase in turnover that could run to tens of millions over the next three years.”
Aurrigo supplied two pods for the first demonstration, outside Coventry Transport Museum, before a fleet of its pods are set to complete the first ever fully autonomous journey in Milton Keynes.
Partners, stakeholders and journalists will be driven in a JLR connected car to a dedicated pick-up point, with the vehicle communicating to the pods to tell them to pick up their passengers.
“Potential customers can now buy pods equipped with Aurrigo’s own autonomous control system and we can even set up and execute the trials,” added Garner.
“We can also just supply the pod platform vehicle if a University or technology organisation is looking at developing their own systems. This was a decision we’ve only just made and, so far, interest has come from all four corners of the globe.”
