Project Endeavour to test autonomous cars in Birmingham

The government-backed Project Endeavour initiative arrives in Birmingham following similar trials in Oxford and will culminate with a final demonstration at a showcase event in Greenwich in August 2021.

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The Project Endeavour trial will feature four Ford Mondeo vehicles fitted with LiDAR, radar and stereo cameras and integrated with Oxbotica’s autonomy software. The fleet is capable of Level 4 autonomous driving and will operate in a five-mile area around Lea Hall station, between Birmingham International Airport and the city centre. Safety drivers will take control of the vehicles should mishaps occur.

The trials will give Oxbotica’s autonomous vehicles the opportunity to experience numerous traffic scenarios and weather conditions throughout the day. The routes include roundabouts, traffic lights, and junctions in industrial and residential areas.

Launched in March 2019, the consortium project, part-funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, is being led by Oxbotica, in collaboration with DG Cities, Immense, TRL, BSI, and Oxfordshire County Council. It is designed to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicle services across the UK.