SCALE
SCALE will operate a new fleet of passenger carrying self-driving vehicles, servicing a route linking Birmingham International rail station, the NEC and Birmingham Business Park.
About the project
The Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project is a collaborative initiative led by Solihull Council.
The consortium delivering this £5.6m driverless vehicle project includes both Warwick and Coventry Universities, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), the NEC and several autonomous vehicle industry specialists.
Funded by the Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), the project will operate a fleet of 3 self-driving vehicles, moving passengers between Birmingham International rail station and Birmingham Business Park, through the NEC. This route has a known, current, need for alternative transport and offers an ideal platform from which to develop commercial self-driving solutions in the area ahead of HS2 opening.
As part of the project the Solihull Council shall receive £579,260 of grant-funding to deliver the project, as well as oversee installation of specialist roadside technology to allow the smooth running of the vehicles.
A remote monitoring centre will be established at TfWM’s control centre in Summer Lane ahead of the service going live in Autumn 2024.
The project is expected to start testing on the route from July 2024.
SCALE will demonstrate and further develop an understanding of:
· Commercial viability of self-driving operations
· Passenger value and pricing components of such services
· Ongoing operational practices, including insurances, repair and maintenance, fleet ownership and service operation
· Verification and validation of automated systems
· Human factors and development of remote assistance and driving
The project will run until 31 March 2025.
The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) interview the team about the mission, objectives, and future plans for the project.
Hear about what makes this project unique, how it helps move the industry forward, and why the funding is so important.
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