Project to help arrival of driverless cars

A LOCAL engineering firm is proudly unveiling a new product to simulate traffic flow when autonomous cars are finally launched.

HORIBA at MIRA, based on the A5, is launching the traffic model as part of its work with the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) consortium.

The model can simulate traffic flows and driver behaviours along both urban and motorway roads, creating a similar experience to that of the ‘real’ world.

It is a large step towards the development of communications between cars for traffic management when vehicles are on the road without drivers.

The UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) consortium – made up of MIRA and 10 other consortium members – is a major project totalling £7.1m, which includes investment from Innovate UK.

The project will enable automotive, infrastructure and service provider companies to trial connected vehicle technology, infrastructure and services in real-life conditions.

The connected environment will be on 40 miles of roads within Coventry and Warwickshire, and will seek to understand how the technology can improve journeys, reduce traffic congestion and provide in-vehicle entertainment and safety services through better connectivity.

Chris Reeves, commercial manager at HORIBA MIRA, said: “The completion of the traffic model is an important step forward within the project, and we’re delighted with the progress made to date.

“The project is helping to pave the way for the development and deployment of connected autonomous vehicles in the UK, and we’re proud to be working together with the UK CITE consortium on this innovative scheme.”

UK CITE is made up of a number of consortium partners within the automotive, infrastructure and service companies, and includes HORIBA MIRA, Visteon, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, WMG, University of Warwick, Coventry University, Coventry City Council, Vodafone, Huawei Technologies, Transport for West Midlands and Highways England.

The UK CITE project will create the UK’s first fully connected infrastructure using a globally unique combination of wireless technologies, which can enable realworld testing in a safe and managed way.