FLOURISH Project: Improving Accessibility with CAV Technology

Introduction

FLOURISH is a multi-sector collaboration, helping to advance the successful implementation of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) in the UK. FLOURISH is developing services and capabilities that link user needs and system requirements, maximising the benefits of CAV technology for users and transport authorities.

The three-year project is worth £5.5 million and is co-funded between industry and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). It is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. It is part of the government’s £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund, supporting the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge.

FLOURISH Partners

Atkins, Age UK, Airbus Group Innovations, AXA UK, Bristol City Council, Designability, Dynniq, Traverse, React AI, South Gloucestershire Council, Connected Places Catapult, Aimsun, University of Bristol, University of West England, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Burges Salmon, Cardiff University.

CAV Technology Challenge

FLOURISH has adopted a user-focused approach to best understand consumer expectations of CAV technology. The project explores how this technology can be harnessed to enhance and enable mobility for older adults and those with mobility-related needs, contributing to the development of a stronger and more inclusive society. Participants have been involved through workshops, and simulator and pod trials.

Solution

The project considers the CAV technology required to deliver these user benefits. The FLOURISH car trials focus on the optimum conditions for the effective wireless transfer of data between vehicles and with the roadside infrastructure. This development will enable the future real-time communication of journey information to users, allowing them to make ‘on the move’ choices about their travel.

FLOURISH also examines how innovative CAV technology such as Artificial Intelligence can be used to model a networked environment which responds immediately to any changes in traffic flow. These learnings from FLOURISH will enable the operation of CAVs at network level and the optimisation of regional traffic management systems, delivering further benefits for users.

Safety is fundamental to user trust levels of CAVs. By investigating resilient and secure communications, FLOURISH is providing a road map for the cyber secure integration of CAV technology within our transport infrastructure. FLOURISH also promotes trust in CAVs by extending the position of the West of England as a centre of excellence for the safe trialling of CAVs.

For FLOURISH, the Catapult is developing, with consortium partners, an advanced adaptable Human Machine Interface (HMI) and implementing this HMI into both a pod-based simulator and a dynamic pod. We are also providing the use of a pod equipped with a range of automated vehicle sensors and designing a flexible pod-interior mock-up that allows a wide range of simulated user trials to be conducted.