British autonomous vehicle specialist Oxbotica says it is on course to start trials of fully autonomous grocery deliveries next year, after successfully completing the first on-road run of the firm’s zero-occupancy vehicle.
The all-electric AppliedEV was deployed on roads in Oxford with no driver on-board, with the firm stating that the milestone marked “the next step in commercialising AV technology”.
The firm is aiming to have the first public on-road business deployment with Ocado Group from next year onwards.
Oxbotica says it will now accelerate commercial deployment of the autonomous vehicle globally, working with partners such as BP.
The firm is working on a range of autonomous vehicles, including passenger shuttles and various industry-specific platforms for other uses, which all use its Oxbotica Driver software. It uses a combination of radar and laser-based sensors to provide the vehicle with a clear understanding of the surroundings.
Oxbotica collaborated with wider autonomous vehicle ecosystems to ensure the trial of the AppliedEV was done in line with the UK Code of Practice.
Prior to the first on-road test run, the firm had conducted a number of trials in the UK, Europe and North America to understand the AppliedEV’s safety levels.
The firm said the test run was a significant milestone for the insurance market and the development of insurance solutions for autonomous vehicles, as part of the UK’s evolving mobility network.
“This Europe-first trial positions the UK as the number one destination for autonomous vehicle development and leapfrogs us towards commercialisation and the subsequent economic benefits,” said Oxbotica boss Gavin Jackson.
“Our zero-occupancy, all-electric, fully autonomous prototype is exactly the new-type vehicle that will form the mainstay of the transportation industry for decades to come.”
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