Oxbotica and TRL pilot safety framework for off highway autonomous vehicles

Oxbotica and TRL have piloted the use of the first code of practice for the safe and cost-effective deployment of autonomous vehicles in unstructured off highway environments.

To demonstrate the Code of practice and highlight its potential to work across a range of vehicles and industries, Oxbotica and TRL deployed a Ford Ranger and Range Rover Evoque, retrofitted with Oxbotica’s autonomy software platform, in a UK quarry during April.

Ben Upcroft, VP of Technology at Oxbotica, comments: “Our autonomy software platform is capable of being integrated with any vehicle, in any environment.”

“In order to harness the true power of this technology, operational regulations need to be developed in unison to ensure safe and efficient deployment.”

“Consortiums such as this are a key stepping stone in ensuring the safe operation of autonomous vehicles in complex scenarios, and enabling the scale up to full commercial deployment in industry settings.”

Ocado Group

Ocado Group recently invested £10 million in Oxbotica, as part of the venture’s Series B funding round.

The relationship between the two companies began in 2017, with a two-week trial using an early prototype delivery vehicle doing autonomous deliveries in Greenwich, London.

They are now collaborating on hardware and software interfaces for autonomous vehicles, enhancing and integrating Oxbotica’s autonomy software platform into a variety of vehicles and the Ocado Smart Platform.

Alex Harvey, Chief of Advanced Technology at Ocado, commented: “We are excited about the opportunity to work with Oxbotica to develop a wide range of autonomous solutions that truly have the potential to transform both our and our partners’ CFC and service delivery operations, while also giving all end customers the widest range of options and flexibility.”