Highway Intersections Upgrade to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground (CAVWAY)

This project will build on the existing environment at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground to provide a comprehensive, flexible set of highway intersections. These will be able to mimic a wide variety of UK road junctions from high speed smart motorways to rural A and B roads in order to allow Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to be tested in a representative, yet safe and secure way. The extensions to the track network will be designed by IDIADA, who have experience of designing and operating some of the world's most comprehensive proving grounds. The site will have a comprehensive communications network, including a private cellular network and V2I roadside beacons. Visual cues will be controlled through smart variable message signs and flexible ground signals. Additional equipment will be provided to mimic the "built up" feel of some road junctions, while at the same time adding the extra dimension of other road users in form of controlled robot vehicles and pedestrians. The upgraded proving ground will be able to test almost any vehicle under almost any scenario in a representative environment which is repeatable and fully controlled.