RDM GROUP DELIVER UK’S FIRST SELF-DRIVING “POD”

Electric-Powered LUTZ Pathfinder Pod Entering Trial Stage

Earlier this year we covered the UK Department of Transport’s decision to permit driverless cars on specific British roads. Manufacturer RDM Group has now delivered the autonomous vehicles to Oxford University’s Mobile Robotics Group (MRG) to start the installation of the pod’s autonomous control system (ACS). The electric-powered LUTZ Pathfinder pod was briefly unveiled to the public in Milton Keynes and will return there once it has its ACS system installed and passes final checks. When finally up and running on Milton Keynes streets the pods will become the first fully automated vehicles to be trialled in pedestrianised zones in Britain.

Although the pods will operate in autonomous mode, a trained operator will still be on hand to take over if anything were to go wrong. Peter Marland, leader of Milton Keynes Council said that the ultimate of aim of the project was “to show that they [the pods] can work as a means of public transport, with people being able to use their smartphones to order a pod, so it makes sense that the commuters at Milton Keynes Central are the first to see the pods. Having the pods here today is one step closer to having them as part of everyday life in MK.“