Connector

The Greater Cambridge region has achieved growth and success on an international scale, but high commuter demand has led to issues of congestion and poor air quality. The Cambridge Autonomous Vehicle (AV) strategy details opportunities to use AVs to tackle these problems.

Connector will undertake an at-scale trial of self-driving buses providing passenger services that integrate with existing transport services within Cambridge.

Services will operate on two sites where there are identified opportunities: The University of Cambridge's Cambridge West Campus and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. In line with legislation, a safety operator will be on-board the vehicles at all times.

Two electric vehicle models are planned for use, the Mellor Orion E and the Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV, all buses are wheelchair accessible ensuring an inclusive service provision. Fusion’s CAVStar system will be integrated into these vehicles to allow them to safely operate autonomously.

System validation and verification will be undertaken initially in a simulation environment using a suite of edge cases. Specific research will be undertaken in testing methodologies for L4 vehicles with no on-board operator and system validation will be completed at the test-track.

A safety case will be prepared and reviewed by an independent organisation to ensure an objective assessment is undertaken.

The Mellor Orion E will run trial passenger services for 6 months and the Alexander Dennis vehicles will run for 3 months. Prior to any passengers boarding the vehicle, workshop, test track and on-road testing will be completed in accordance with clear guidelines.

Engagement with transport operators is essential to the project: providing a self-driving service run by operators with operator staff and management and ticketing mechanisms.

Assessing the commercial viability and challenges in operating self-driving passenger services as a transport mode that integrates with the wider transport eco-system is also an objective of the project.

The inclusion of existing transport operators and associated knowledge transfer will offer critical insights between all the project partners and may provide an opportunity to continue service operations beyond the project on a commercial basis.

Key external stakeholders will be engaged to ensure relevant insights are shared to help define future strategy and regulation and help accelerate similar deployments elsewhere.