A series of projects designed to address critical issues across the transport sector have been given a boost of £1.96m in new government funding.
Personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers and robots for freight at ports are among 67 transport technology projects being developed and tested using the funds.
Jesse Norman, technology minister, announced the latest round of the Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) Programme, which this year saw a record number of winning projects based outside London.
Some of the projects receiving funding include:
- an app that uses augmented reality (AR) to help visually impaired passengers get around rail stations
remote-controlled robots for deliveries - kite-powered tug boats to reduce emissions
- using remotely-controlled, and in some instances automated, electric heavy-duty robots to replace HGVs
- drones to deliver packages in hard-to-reach areas.
The TRIG programme looks to encourage engineers, academics and innovators to research solutions to address some of transport’s most pressing issues, such as decarbonisation.
Jesse Norman, transport and decarbonisation minister, said: “From making travelling easier for visually impaired passengers to improving rural connectivity, these winning projects have the potential to transform the future of transport.
“The government wants the UK to be a world leader in the future of transport and, through the TRIG programme, the Department for Transport is supporting innovators and businesses to decarbonise and improve transport while growing the economy and supporting jobs across the UK.
This year’s winners bring the total amount invested through the TRIG programme to more than £12m since it launched in 2014, with funding being awarded to almost 300 projects.
Some of the main focus areas for the funding are maritime decarbonisation, the future of freight, local transport decarbonisation, improving the rail passenger experience and transport resilience to severe weather and flooding.
The TRIG programme is delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, one of the UK government’s Catapult centres, which were set up from 2011 onwards to encourage research and development across different industries.
