Funding available for simulation to test driverless vehicles

UK Businesses can apply for a share of up to £15 million to develop simulation technologies that help to speed up adoption of driverless and connected vehicles.

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) in partnership with Innovate UK has up to £15 million to invest in projects that use simulation and modelling in the development of approvals and standards for autonomous and connected vehicles.

Driverless vehicles on the roads

UK government has said that it expects driverless vehicles to be on UK roads by 2021.

Testing physical vehicles in all conceivable situations is likely to be expensive and time-consuming. Development of connected and autonomous vehicles and battery technologies is therefore a core part of government’s Industrial Strategy.

It recently announced a Sector Deal with the automotive industry that secures joint investment and long-term commitments in design and development of connected and autonomous vehicles, the research and development of battery technology and manufacture of ultra-low and zero emission vehicles.

The announcement included the £15 million from CCAV in this competition to speed up adoption and development of standards and regulations.