• Residents of Orkney are being invited to try out a self-driving Auto-Pod as part of a study exploring the feasibility of deploying driverless shuttles on the island
  • Taking place in Kirkwall at Crossie Crown Place on 9 – 10 Feb, the event will bring the technology to life while offering valuable real‑world insights for the Kirkwall AutoLink Feasibility Study
  • The project is exploring how an autonomous, zero‑emission self-driving service could provide cleaner, dependable, and more accessible travel between Kirkwall Harbour and Kirkwall Airport, benefitting residents, workers, and visitors.

 

ORKNEY, 30th JANUARY, 2025 – Autonomous mobility is moving from concept to reality, and Orkney is preparing to show what the future of rural transport could look like. The Kirkwall AutoLink team will host a demonstrator event that will allow residents to experience autonomous technology first‑hand in a safe and controlled setting.

The event builds on growing momentum in Orkney, where the AutoLink project, led by Urban Foresight and supported by Aurrigo and HITRANS is investigating whether a self‑driving, zero‑emission vehicle could improve connectivity between Kirkwall Harbour and Kirkwall Airport. With more than 160,000 passengers annually and 90% of airport journeys currently made by private car, autonomous vehicles offer a new opportunity to cut emissions, increase accessibility, and strengthen local mobility.

The demonstrator event, which will feature a small Auto-Pod, responds directly to early insights, which highlighted both curiosity and caution among residents. This showcase is designed as a learning exercise, allowing participants to not only observe the self-driving Auto-Pod in action but to understand how the systems work. Attendees will also be encouraged to share their thoughts and feedback, helping inform future transport planning and decision making in Orkney.

The exercise will:

    • Provide members of the public the opportunity to see and experience first-hand self-driving vehicles using Aurrigo’s Auto-Pod.
    • Allow users to share their views on the technology.
    • Support future decisions on trial design, regulatory readiness, and potential deployment of both Auto-Pods and larger shuttle buses.

Residents are now being encouraged to take part, with online booking open for anyone who wants to get involved and try it out for themselves.

Beyond showcasing the technology, the study aims to combine detailed feasibility assessments with active community engagement to ensure the shuttle service is shaped by local needs.

The study draws on extensive local engagement with residents, businesses, and transport operators, ensuring community needs directly shape the future of autonomous mobility in Orkney.

Callum White, Head of Zero Emission Mobility at Urban Foresight, said: “This demonstrator event is an exciting opportunity for Orkney to experience autonomous technology up close. It gives people the chance to ask questions, see how the vehicle operates, and share their views in a way that directly influences how autonomous mobility could work in rural areas.”

Dr Richard Fairchild, Chief Operations Officer at Aurrigo added: “We’re proud to bring our autonomous pod to Orkney and demonstrate how this technology can operate safely and effectively in remote settings. Engagement events like this are crucial for building trust and shaping the future of autonomous transport.”

HITRANS commented: “This is a major step forward in understanding what future mobility could look like for island communities. Local insight is central to the feasibility study, and this demonstrator event provides a valuable platform to gather it.”

The Feasibility Studies (FS) Competition is part of the £150million CAM Pathfinder programme which is being delivered by Zenzic on behalf of the UK Government.

Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “It’s fantastic to see residents of Orkney being invited to get involved in the Kirkwall Autolink study. CAM technologies have the potential to unlock huge societal and economic benefits, but in order for projects to succeed, they need the buy-in from the public, which is why events like this are so important, so we’d encourage anyone interested to sign up and get involved.”

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About Urban Foresight:

Urban Foresight is the UK’s leading consultancy for smart and sustainable places. We work with governments, NGOs, and businesses worldwide to deliver innovative, place-based solutions that tackle societal challenges and support net zero goals.

They combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery, developing business cases, managing pilot projects, and enabling real-world innovation. With a track record of first-of-their-kind initiatives, we bring agility, expertise, and a commitment to lasting impact.

About Zenzic:

Zenzic was established by government and industry to champion the UK Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) ecosystem. As a collaborative organisation, Zenzic strives to place the UK at the forefront of the global CAM revolution by promoting innovation and enabling UK organisations to make significant contributions to the future of mobility.

About Innovate UK:

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. Our mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.

Media contact:

Lorraine Hammond, Marketing Manager, Urban Foresight
M: 07973 145022
E: lorraine.hammond@urbanforesight.com