Britain Launches Its First Road-Ready Driverless Car


LONDON: Britain's first driverless vehicle to run on the streets was officially unveiled at a government launch event.

The prototype 'LUTZ Pathfinder' pod is an electric-powered two-seat car designed to work on sidewalks and pedestrianised areas at a maximum speed of 24 km per hour.

The pods are being built by RDM Group, one of Britain's fastest growing advanced engineering companies, and will be equipped with sensor and navigation technology provided by the University of Oxford's Mobile Robotics Group.

The pods will be tested on a route in Milton Keynes in summer. This will be the first time driverless vehicles will be used in Britain in an urban community setting.

"The projects we are now funding in Greenwich, Bristol, Milton Keynes and Coventry will help to ensure we are world leaders in this field and able to benefit from what is expected to be a 900 billion-pound industry by 2025," Xinhua news agency quoted Britain's Government Business Secretary Vince Cable as saying at Wednesday's launch event.

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Source: IANS