What’s next for connected/autonomous vehicles in the UK

It’s not difficult to get excited about the potential of autonomous and connected cars. The advent of the driverless car promises nothing short of a social revolution, changing the way we travel, work and live.

Private car ownership may become less popular, freeing up miles of car parking space in our towns and cities; motor transport could be opened up to those who are currently excluded from driving, such as the very old, very young or disabled people. Autonomous systems could help reduce the number of road deaths each year; 1,780 died on British roads in 2015.^[1]

There is a great deal of buzz about the vehicles of the future and how they will impact our lives, but what about the technical underpinnings? BSI, together with Transport Systems Catapult and with support from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), is conducting a six-month research project to discover how standardization could support innovation in this area.

Defining connected and autonomous vehicles

Connected and autonomous vehicles are often mentioned in the same breath, but it is important to appreciate the differences between the two areas of technology.

Connected vehicles can communicate with each other and the world around them. Most modern vehicles now have some level of connectedness – for example, a sat-nav system using GPS technology.

Connected vehicles feed data into a central system which could ensure better management of traffic flow. For example, information about traffic volumes can help road agencies allocate resources, or improve smart motorway systems.

Autonomous vehicles, on the other hand, use technology to carry out functions without reliance on a human driver. Most modern cars have some version of this: automatic parking, for example, or collision avoidance features. Companies such as Tesla, Audi, Google and Volvo are competing to develop the most advanced autonomous vehicles, in partnership with national governments which provide supportive regulatory frameworks.

The UK’s role in the development of connected and autonomous vehicles

The UK government has undertaken a number of projects to support the development of connected and autonomous technology. For example, a consultation is looking at how insurance law and the Highway Code should be amended to 'support the safe use of remote control parking and motorway assist features.'^[2] Changes are likely to be published in a forthcoming Modern Transport Bill in parliament.

There are also a number of demonstrator projects, such as the Greenwich GATEway (Greenwich Automated Transport Environment). This £8m project uses a smart mobility lab to test use cases for automated vehicles, helping to identify and find solutions for technical, legal and societal challenges of bringing automated vehicles to UK roads.^[3]

Further projects are taking place in Bristol, Milton Keynes and Coventry. The government anticipates that vehicles with advanced features such as remote control parking and motorway assist will be on the roads by the mid-2020s.^[4]

Brexit could help to support creativity in this area by allowing the UK to permit greater regulatory freedom than other EU member states. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, claims that 'Britain is already perceived as an attractive test-bed for technologies; Brexit may make it more attractive.' Researchers predict that self-driving technology could contribute £51bn to the UK economy by 2030.^[5]

How standardization could help drive innovation

The research being carried out by BSI will review the physical and digital infrastructure which will determine the ease with which autonomous and connected vehicles can be introduced to the UK. So far, around 200 organizations have taken part by completing a survey. Participants include research centres, automotive manufacturers, universities, consultants and government bodies.

This new technology provides a challenge to ensure that everything from traffic lighting, signals, road layouts and lane markings are suited to the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles. The research project may well identify areas where the UK can take a lead in developing standardised systems and deliver improvements.

There is also the major issue of cyber security. Some people claim this is the biggest obstacle facing the driverless car; hackers may be able to gain access to an electronic control unit (ECUs) and control a car or tamper with safety critical systems such as brakes, steering or the engine.

There is no standardized approach to programming ECUs, and auto manufacturers source from many suppliers, leaving ample opportunity for coding faults and loopholes to let in hackers. 

Can you contribute to the debate?

If your area of expertise is related to autonomous and connected vehicles, whether directly through the motor trade or indirectly as a supplier or service provider, why not get involved with the BSI survey?

BSI welcomes input from interest parties into the survey before the end of November. Just contact Nick Fleming, Market Development Manager on nick.fleming@bsigroup.com to register your interest.

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