| AUTOMATED VEHICLES
Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World
067
Above: The
self-driving
pods are part of
a government
project called
Flourish that is
putting the UK at
the forefront of
CAV development
The market for self-driving vehicles in
the UK is predicted to be worth £52 billion
by 2035, and it is believed the investment is
worth making to maximise the UK’s global
position in the industry.
Planning to Flourish
One initiative that received government backing
is Flourish, an R&D project that will investigate
how CAVs can help people less able to travel,
which has just released its final findings.
“We’re on the cusp of one of the most
profound changes ever to happen to our
transport system, enabled by new technologies
such as self-driving vehicles,” said Iain Forbes,
head of the Centre for Connected and
Autonomous Vehicles. “These changes could
transform the lives of disabled or older people
who find it tough to use the transport system.
“However, we won’t get there unless those
designing the technology engage properly
with a wide range of transport users,” Forbes
adds. “That is why government is investing in
projects such as Flourish – projects that bring
technology companies together with transport
users to help ensure our future transport system
works for everyone.”
In a three-year initiative worth £5.5 million
and co-funded by the UK government, Flourish
has played a big role in advancing the successful
implementation of autonomous vehicles in the
UK, by developing services and capabilities that
maximise the benefits of driverless vehicles
for users and transport authorities.
The project was a collaboration between
small and medium-sized companies and
large businesses across multiple industries,
as well as universities, local authorities and