Member Article

RDM to complete first 'unmanned' Pod trial

RDM Group is set to break new ground today when it completes the UK’s first ever public demonstration of a ‘first and last mile’ fully autonomous pod.

The technology specialist, which employs 65 people at its headquarters in Coventry, is planning to use its debut at the CENEX LCV 2016 show to trial its Pod Zero® vehicle in full autonomous mode.

Visitors to the show at the Millbrook Proving Ground will be able to see it move around a specially laid out track designed to show its versatility.

These demonstration drives will represent a major breakthrough in this technology, putting the ambitious firm ahead of domestic and international rivals ten times their size.

“It’s a massive moment for our business and in the UK’s desire to lead the way when it comes to driverless vehicle technology,” explained David Keene, who founded the business in 1993.

“The company has invested millions of pounds in the technology and our team has created a vehicle which can operate in total ‘autonomous’ mode. This means that there is no driver or human controlling the vehicle, a UK first when it comes to ‘first and last mile’ transport solutions.”

He continued: “CENEX LCV 2016 is the perfect place to showcase the technology we have developed. A special body version has been designed specifically for the show, which is transparent from the wheels up giving a perfect view of the inside and the fact there is no driver/operator in place.

“There will be significant interest in this latest development step and it paves the way for full trials - carrying people from A to B - to now take place. It will also help us complete a number of opportunities from interested parties throughout the world.”

RDM Group has developed autonomous pods that will be available in two, four and eight seater variations, ideal for local city transport authorities, airports, shopping centres and campuses.

They have an operational range of 60 miles, can travel with a top speed of 15mph and have been designed to accommodate passengers with special requirements featuring wheelchair access and a number of aids to assist the visually impaired.

David, who also sits on the UK Automotive Council, continued: “Our approach has been to design, develop and integrate our own autonomous control system (ACS) into our pods, which means we can offer our customers a single solution for driverless pod projects.

“We recruited a team of experts to create the ACS and they represent some of the finest minds in academia and industry.”

He concluded: “RDM can now manufacture up to 200 driverless pods per year at our Coventry manufacturing site and this capability could grow if we decide to move to a new purpose built facility in the City. This growth will be driven by fulfilling the significant worldwide interest in our products that we have generated.”

RDM Group, which is also involved in the Government-backed LUTZ Pathfinder and UK Autodrive driverless vehicle projects, has taken a large outdoor space at Cenex and can be found at SP-26. A second pod is also available to view inside the main exhibition hall on the UK Autodrive stand.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .