The ten member HumanDrive consortium has an ambitious target; to develop a human-like autonomous driving system that will drive a 200+ mile journey across the UK, through live traffic and in natural conditions. This 30-month project is part funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) via Innovate UK and will finish in late 2019.

The most complex autonomously controlled journey yet attempted in the UK, the HumanDrive project will develop a prototype Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) with the aim of successfully demonstrating a live traffic, end-to-end journey in a variety of settings, including country roads, A-roads and motorways.

Challenge

One of the most significant and innovative aspects of the project will be the development of an advanced vehicle control system, designed to allow the vehicle to emulate a ‘natural’ human driving style using machine learning. Before the car is introduced to UK roads, the system will be developed and subjected to a robust testing process using a range of facilities, including simulation, hardware in the loop, private test track and small sections of public roads.

Solution

HumanDrive will:

• Develop a vehicle capable of safe autonomous driving, in a range of conditions
• Develop a machine learning system able to satisfactorily demonstrate ‘natural’ autonomous driving
• Demonstrate a 200+ mile autonomous drive across the UK
• Develop testing, validation and safety methodologies which position UK industry and academia at the forefront of autonomous vehicle knowledge and expertise
• Develop a tailored Cyber Security Framework for the CAV sector
• Understand the implications of CAVs on the wider transport system in terms of traffic and infrastructure.

Benefits

Successful completion of this project will take the UK one step closer to having autonomous vehicles on the road, helping the UK government to fulfil its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge.

• Society - Connected and Autonomous Vehicles have the potential to significantly improve safety on our roads, reduce pollution and congestion, increase accessibility for vulnerable groups, enhance our public transport, support business and the economy, release driver time for other uses, ease the pressure on a stretched transport infrastructure, and develop the transport network across the whole UK (and beyond). Furthermore, it will mimic the driving behaviour of human beings, providing an enhanced experience for the occupants and ultimately helping with acceptance of these new technologies.
• Establishing UK capability in CAVs - An estimated 1m Connected and Autonomous Vehicle jobs will be created in the UK by 2035. HumanDrive is supporting this by helping to develop the necessary UK capabilities to establish a thriving CAV ecosystem.
• A destination for R&D - The UK is a leader in CAV research, development and testing, backed by significant government investment, world-leading universities, and an open and innovative business environment. Learnings and technologies from this project will help to develop the autonomous vehicles and fleets of tomorrow.

Role of Connected Places Catapult

In addition to being project manager and dissemination lead for HumanDrive, we will also be responsible for safety case elements as well as supporting the live trial elements of the project. This combination of a complex ‘live-traffic’ scenario and AI-controlled vehicle is ground-breaking, as such presents considerable technical and safety challenges. These challenges will be met by a series of trials conducted on specialised test tracks, in simulation and open public roads to develop the AI-controlled vehicle.

CPC experts will assess and identify the myriad of hazards involved, building on the learnings from the hugely successful LUTZ Pathfinder Project. CPC Human Factors scientists are also assisting in the design of trials to gather data and determine the human driving behaviour upon which much of the AV natural human driving style will be based.

The knowledge acquired will be used to advise on future CAV projects and technologies, in line with CPC priorities to support UK business, increase collaboration between industry and academia, and ultimately increase economic activity in the Intelligent Mobility (IM) sector.

Further information

You can follow the project and find out more at https://humandrive.co.uk