Huddersfield digital tech firm leads Innovate UK funded connected cars project

The production of connected cars, cars with inbuilt “telematics” devices, capable of communicating to other vehicles and machines, is forecast to rise from around 0.8 million in 2015 to 2 million in 2025, accounting for 95% of all cars produced in the UK.

However, little progress has been made towards putting this technology to use.

The new i-Motors project, which has been awarded £1.325m in funds from the UK’s innovation agency Innovate UK, plans to address this issue.

The project sets out to establish a set of universal standards on how vehicles communicate with each other, and with other machines. Making use of connected cars’ ability to support apps, i-Motors will build a mobile platform that allows vehicles of different manufacturers and origins to transfer and store data.

The platform will be spearheaded by Huddersfield-based digital technology company Control F1, along with academics from Nottingham University’s Geospatial Institute and Human Factors Research Group.

The i-Motors team will use patented technology, allowing data to be collected and analysed at greater speeds than ever before. Capitalising on the experience of traffic management experts InfoHub Ltd, this data can then be combined with other data sources such as weather reports, event data and traffic feeds, easing congestion and increasing safety through realtime updates and route planning.

In addition, the platform will allow vehicles to report errors, which can be automatically crosschecked against similar reports to diagnose the problem and reduce the chance of a breakdown. The project will adopt a human-centred approach, aiming to understand the complex issues involved in the provision of new information and services for the “drivers” of future vehicles.

With assistance from Head Communications, i-Motors will also address the issue of limited connectivity by developing sensors capable of transmitting data to the cloud in realtime. Through installing these sensors, known as Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS), vehicles can remain connected with sub-metre precision, even when out of internet and GPS range.

i-Motors already has the backing of Sheffield City Council, Nottingham and Coventry, where the new technology will first be piloted. The project will make use of live vehicle data provided by Ford, which has an ongoing relationship with the University of Nottingham.

Control F1 MD Andy Dumbell said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the funding by Innovate UK to lead on this ground-breaking project. Connected and driverless cars offer us the opportunity to make huge strides in terms of reducing congestion, bringing down emissions, and even saving lives.

“Yet as is always the case when dealing with big data, it’s only effective if you know how to use it. We believe that through i-Motors we can set the standard for connected and autonomous vehicles and redefine the future of our streets, highways and cities.”

Newcastle-based business advisors UNW has been working with Control F1 since mid-2014, advising on strategic development and tax issues.

Control F1 technical director, Carl Howarth, said: “We have undergone rapid growth since we have been engaged with UNW.

“They had the skills, expertise and connections to help us move the business along and it was a plus that we didn’t need to go to London to get the support we needed. We’ll be receiving on-going advice from UNW as we work on the i-Motors project.”

Paul Kaiser, who heads UNW’s corporate finance advisory team, attends Control F1’s board meetings and works closely with the company to plan its development.

He said: “It’s fantastic news that Control F1 has won Government money to lead the i-Motors project.

“The initiative will lay some of the groundwork for a future where autonomous cars are the norm. Research suggests around nine out of 10 accidents are caused by human error, and this important project will play a key role in eradicating mistakes on the road, reducing accidents and easing congestion in our cities.

“We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Control F1 and supporting the company as it grows.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →