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Driverless cars took to Oxford roads in experiment

Traffic image and Oxbotica car.
Traffic image and Oxbotica car.

Fully autonomous vehicles have been driven on Oxford roads with no on-board driver and they could soon be used to deliver food.

The autonomous vehicle company Oxbotica has now completed its first driverless vehicle test on publicly accessible roads in Oxford after two years of trials.

Trials also took place both off- and on-road across the UK, Europe and North America.

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The fully electric vehicle is currently being operated with no on-board driver, but Oxbotica’s intention is for its first on-road business use with the Ocado Group to start delivering customer orders from 2023.

Oxford Mail: Oxbotica and Cisco to Solve Autonomous Vehicle Data Challenge With Pioneering OpenRoaming Platform (Graphic: Business Wire)
Oxford Mail: Oxbotica and Cisco to Solve Autonomous Vehicle Data Challenge With Pioneering OpenRoaming Platform (Graphic: Business Wire)

Oxbotica and Cisco to Solve Autonomous Vehicle Data Challenge With Pioneering OpenRoaming Platform (Graphic: Business Wire)

Paul Newman, Oxbotica founder & CTO, said: “Oxbotica is changing the way people and goods move. Our goal is to be indistinguishable from perfect on safety, and this achievement alongside our partners is proof of that. It’s a historic moment for the UK, the transport and logistics sector, autonomous vehicle technology, and Oxbotica.”

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Oxbotica’s technology uses a combination of radar and laser-based systems, which give the vehicle a ‘view’ of the area around it. From there, multiple artificial intelligence systems check the area and make decisions.

The test has also proven to be a breakthrough in terms of insurance. Oxbotica has worked with partners Marsh Apollo Group and with insurer Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe, to create coverage that is tailored directly towards the risks of taking a driverless vehicle onto the road.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Rebecca Whittaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or calling 07824524333

Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt

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