The RDM Group (www.rdmgroup.co.uk), which is part of a project to pioneer the design and build of driver-less vehicles, has welcomed news that there is strong public support for the project. The Coventry-based manufacturer has worked on the development of the electric-powered two-seater LUTZ Pathfinder ‘pod’, which is currently undergoing trials in Milton Keynes.

A recent survey conducted by YouGov has highlighted a growing interest in driverless pods and the benefits they can provide to people living in, working in or visiting UK cities. Commissioned by the Transport Systems Catapult (the organisation overseeing the trials), the poll found that 61% of adults in Milton Keynes would be interested in using the pod for ‘short hop’ journeys.

RDM chairman David Keene said: “This is a major boost for the project at a time when we are entering the next stage of the trials. The work the Transport Systems Catapult has done in raising the profile of LUTZ appears to be paying dividends, and while there will always be concerns about something as game-changing as this, there appears to be a willingness to give it a try.”

Mr Keene said that self-driving vehicles could be a major growth opportunity for the UK in years to come, and the work the project is doing could provide a platform for future schemes. “It has certainly put RDM on the international map and highlights how an advanced engineering business — supported by the right partners — has the potential to lead on future transport solutions.”

The LUTZ Pathfinder pods were designed and manufactured by RDM Group and are equipped with a control system developed by the University of Oxford’s Mobile Robotics Group. Up to three pods are being used during the trial, with each one being driven initially in manual mode as it ‘learns’ its environment.

Once they have begun to operate in self-driving mode, a trained test driver will remain for the duration of the trial, ready to take control of the vehicle if required. The trial will culminate in a public demonstration of the technology, due to take place in Milton Keynes later this year. The findings from the trial will be fed into the three-year UK Autodrive programme, which will involve a fleet of 40 pods, as well as regular road-based cars operating in Milton Keynes and Coventry.