We write a lot about self-driving vehicles here on Hackaday, but it’s fair to say that most of the limelight has fallen on the big and well-known technology companies on the west coast of the United States. It’s like drawing attention to other parts of the world where autonomous transportation has been studied as much, and that note has an interesting milestone from Europe. British company Oxbotica has successfully launched its first zero-occupancy on-road journey in Europe, on a public road in Oxford, UK.
The glossy promo video below the break shows the car with the number plate indicating its on-road validity as it travels through relatively quiet streets through a technology park in the city and promises a brighter future for local delivery and urban transportation. The car itself is attractive, it is a platform provided by the Australian apparel AppliedEV, an electric spaceframe car designed to provide a versatile platform for autonomous transport. For example, unlike many of the high-profile vehicles mentioned above, it has no passenger cabin and no on-board driver to carry the wheel in a crash; Instead it is powered by Oxbotica technology and has their sensor pylon attached to its center.
It is fair to say that despite these milestones it is still early days, but the company says it has entered into an agreement with British online supermarket Okado and expects to start delivering customer orders by 2023. It is noteworthy that this step occurs somewhere. Oxford Technology Park North is the former site of the Oxford Technology Park, now on the road to the plant that produces the mini.
Exciting times for self-driving abound for the British at the moment, as they are also experiencing their first autonomous bus route.
Thanks [Malie Lalor] To post the tip.