WMG tests driverless pods in ‘state-of-the-art simulator’

WMG at the University of Warwick is to use a laser scan of 30 miles of roads around Coventry to test driverless pods as part of a research programme launched this week.

WMG will work with RDM Group in a project called Innovative Testing of Autonomous Control Techniques (INTACT). The project, funded by Innovate UK, will enable RDM to test its vehicles on one of the worlds most adaptable and advanced driving simulators at WMG.

Professor Paul Jennings from WMG at the University of Warwick said: “The vehicles will be tested on a state-of-the-art simulator we have just installed in WMG. It will use a LIDAR scan of 30 miles of real roads around the City of Coventry to test vehicles in the simulator.

“It can be configured so that different vehicles can be driven into it for testing, and the real world wireless environment will be recreated too. We believe both will be novel capabilities for such an advanced simulator.”

RDM Group has been involved in the design and build of the LUTZ Pathfinder autonomous pods that are due to be trialled on the roads of Milton Keynes this spring. It will also be a key partner in the recently announced £20million Autodrive consortium.

David Keene, chairman of RDM Group, said: “It is fantastic that we have such advanced simulation technology at our disposal to analyse how driverless vehicles will react to the surroundings of Coventry. It will speed up the testing process considerably and help with the positioning of the sensors on the pods.”