A $2.8 million trial of a driverless shuttle will transfer people between Adelaide Airport’s terminal and the long-term carpark.
It’s one of seven projects to claim a share of the South Australian Government’s $10 million Future Mobility Lab Fund to boost local testing, research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
Adelaide Airport will receive $1 million for the trial and if successful, the driverless passenger shuttles will be become a permanent part of its operations.
Flinders University Vice Chancellor Professor, Colin Stirling, said, “The trial will include the development of a mobile app that will allow people arriving by bus or train to arrange for a shuttle to meet them and deliver them quickly and conveniently to their final destination on campus.
“As the trial advances, we’ll open it up to members of the public to be able to experience driverless transport.”
Autonomous cargo pods for the Tonsley Innovation Precinct in Clovelly Park and driverless shuttles for Flinders University students are also among the projects to win funding.
Leading international driverless car supplier RDM Group will receive $1 million towards a $1.8 million driverless cargo pod trial, transporting goods at the Tonsley precinct, with the aim of developing a market-ready autonomous delivery pod within a year.
Another $1 million will go to Flinders University, which will collaborate with the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) on a three-year $4 million driverless shuttle project.
Initially the vehicle will shuttle students around the Tonsley campus, with future plans to extend it to the Bedford Park campus and local public transport hubs.
Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative Centre of Excellence Executive Director, Rita Excell, said, “This grant funding is a positive investment which allows these ADVI program partners to advance testing, research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies to determine which technology options best fit Australian conditions and needs.
“This investment positions local organisations to secure a share of a specialised high-tech international export market, and, according to ADVI research, will create more than 16,000 jobs for Australians.”
Seven projects will share in $5.6 million from the first round of funding from the Future Mobility Lab Fund with other projects to be announced soon.
