Coventry-based RDM Group (www.rdmgroup.co.uk), an autonomous-vehicle pioneer, welcomed a surprise visitor to its display at a recent event marking the 50th birthday of Milton Keynes.

Prince William made a beeline for the firm’s driverless pod, which will shortly be commencing trials on the streets of the town as part of the UK Autodrive initiative, testing ‘first- and last-mile transport solutions’.

Sales and marketing director Miles Garner showed him around the four-seat vehicle, which is fitted with RDM’s own
autonomous control system and can travel 60 miles on one charge (at a top speed of 15mph).

Prince William also took the opportunity to sit in the driverless vehicle, and he enquired about the UK’s progress with this technology compared to the rest of the world.

Initial trials of the pods are due to begin in pedestrianised areas of Milton Keynes later this year, with up to 40 pods set to be deployed across the town centre by the end of the project next summer.

UK Autodrive, which is responsible for the project, will also be trialling autonomous and ‘connected’ road-based
cars on the streets of both Milton Keynes and Coventry.