CAVs

Both the UK and Canada have an interest in the potential of autonomous vehicles, and the countries can achieve greater heights in the connected and automated mobility (CAM) sector by working together. From 4 to 10 March 2023, the UK’s national innovation agency Innovate UK brought a delegation from the UK to Ontario in order to develop connections with potential partners, as part of its Global Business Innovation Programme.

The attendees were organisations developing CAM solutions, and Darwin was pleased to be part of the UK delegation. Our co-founder and delivery director, Daniela Petrovic, went to Ontario to discuss Darwin’s work with autonomous vehicles, such as the Darwin Autonomous Shuttle, and how our vehicle communications technology can support automated mobility.

Darwin Innovation Group, a company specialising in ubiquitous connectivity and software development for autonomous vehicles, has established a strategic collaboration with global IT services company Cognizant. The relationship aims to broaden the reach of the autonomous vehicle market by introducing new vehicle management tools and reliable vehicle connectivity, making use of both 5G and satellite communications.

We were honoured to welcome Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia to the UK, to Harwell Science and Innovation Campus on 8 February. Ambassador Lubi was interested in the work we’re doing to bring Estonia-based Auve Tech’s autonomous shuttle to UK roads.

The Darwin Autonomous Shuttle service began in late 2021, making it the longest-running autonomous passenger service in the UK. Throughout the service, the shuttle has been looked after by Darwin’s trained and dedicated safety operators. Darwin’s operators have now expanded their range of expertise by completing their training to operate Iseauto, a self-driving shuttle developed by Auve Tech.

Auve is an Estonian developer of self-driving vehicles, and its shuttles have already been deployed in countries such as Finland and Greece. Its modern, compact autonomous shuttle will be operated alongside the existing Darwin Autonomous Shuttle at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

What is the public perception of autonomous vehicles, and what other challenges to adoption exist? The University of Glasgow’s transport workshops raised these interesting questions, and this post takes a look at the discussion around them.