A project has been launched by the University of Surrey in the UK to help ensure that self-driving technology can be safely implemented.
The Methods for Assurance of Self-Driving Vehicles scheme, known as Massdrive, aims to develop robust methods of approving and certifying self-driving cars as they become available.
Professor Saber Fallah, co-investigator on the project, said: “We want to create strong connections between car makers, people who set the rules, academics, government groups and local communities.”
In November 2023, the UK government announced plans for new legislation to bring automated driving to British roads.
All self-driving vehicles will be required to undergo robust safety testing, the government said.
READ MORE: Unpacking the details of the Automated Vehicles Bill
Fallah, the director of the connected autonomous vehicles research lab at the university, said Massdrive will bring together scientists, regulators and the public to begin conversations about how to make self-driving cars safe.
“Our main goal is to make sure these vehicles are safe,” he said.
“By having regular discussions, workshops and meetings, we’re creating a space where everyone can share ideas and good ways of doing things, focusing particularly on making sure the AI in cars is trustworthy.”
Massdrive is a collaboration between the University of Surrey, the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol, and has been funded by Innovate UK.
Achievements and innovations in automated driving solutions and road safety will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
