An Oxfordshire company is set to receive millions of pounds of government funding to develop its driverless car technology for use in heavy machinery.
Oxbotica will work with construction giant Caterpillar to create an autonomous truck for off road use in ‘extreme environments’ such as mines.
The project, which could ‘revolutionise’ the construction and mining industry, is among 22 sharing £22.4million Government funding as part of a third wave of investment in connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV).
The Culham Science Centre based start-up is also working with the Californian company AiPod to develop a fleet of ten smart cars which could change the way families travel, bringing its share of the money to £12million.
Automotive Minister Richard Harrington announced the new funding during a visit to Culham Science Centre when he was taken on a drive around the science centre in one of Oxbotica’s driverless cars.
Mr Harrington said his first trip was an ‘experience’ and said he felt like ‘part of the future. He added: “From my point of view I am so pleased my department has been at the forefront of the helping to develop this technology. “It has the potential to change millions of people’s lives and it’s being done here – not in California, Australia or Singapore – but here in Oxfordshire. “I believe it is a second industrial revolution, where, just like in the original, Britain is developing technology that is exported all over the world.”
