New driverless buses launched at Inverness Airport and Inverness Campus as part of pilot project
A pilot project to improve connections between Inverness Airport and the new airport railway station is set to run later this month.
Automated shuttle pods created by Aurrigo will be available for passengers to travel between the terminal and the train station - a distance of 1.2km - without having to wait or pay for the bus.
The pilot will run through August 30 and will see two types of “automated people movers” trialed, the smaller Auto-Pod and larger Auto-Shuttle at the Inverness Airport and the University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness Campus - where another driverless bus was also trialled in the past.
HITRANS Director Ranald Robertson said: “HITRANS are delighted to be a partner in this project which will help improve our understanding of what passenger transport might look like in the Highlands and Islands in the future.
“The trial will test two different types of driverless shuttle with both operations providing a real test of what this technology can offer both at Inverness Airport and Inverness Campus.”
Graeme Bell, General Manager for Inverness Airport said: “We are delighted to act as one of the testing grounds for the autonomous vehicle which is being used to explore the potential of a vehicle connection for passengers travelling between the railway station and the terminal building.”
The Auto-Pod will be covering about 750m of the journey between Inverness Airport and the station.
Currently, the alternative for passengers is to walk the whole route or take the shuttle bus for which there is a charge unless you have the Go-Hi app.
This trial aims to gauge public perception surrounding autonomous vehicles and will assess the feasibility of introducing an on-demand, low-cost connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) service to the region.
By leveraging autonomous vehicle technology, the project aims to enhance accessibility, reduce passenger travel times, and decrease CO2 emissions, contributing to Scotland's NetZero goals.
Prof. David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo said: “Operating at Inverness Airport highlights the diverse environments where Aurrigo’s automated vehicles can truly make an impact.” He continued “The aviation industry as a whole offers countless opportunities for this innovative technology to enhance operations, improve safety, and transform the passenger experience.”
Project partners include the University of Glasgow, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Aurrigo International plc, Stagecoach North Scotland, and Darwin Innovation Group Ltd., and is funded through Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ (“CCAV”) Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility (“CAM”) competition.
