Self-parking cars could become reality

Self-parking cars could become reality – Learning to parallel park could soon become a thing of the past if a new Government initiative proves successful.

Business Minister Richard Harrington is inviting companies to bid for £30 million of funding to help develop self-driving vehicles for the UK’s roads.

Up to £5 million of this pot will be available specifically to support projects developing and testing autonomous parking technology.

The technology will ultimately allow self-driving cars to park in all kinds of scenarios without any human intervention. It’s all part of a Government aim to have fully self-driving vehicles on UK roads in just three years’ time.

The funding is being made available through the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Meridian, the Government’s hub for testing autonomous technology.

The money will also support two public testing sites for self-driving cars in urban environments – the first of their kind in Europe.

And the initiative is a crucial element of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy to invest in and shape the design, development and manufacture of the transport system of the future.

Graham Hoare, Chair of the Automotive Council’s Technology Group, welcomed the latest developments, saying they create a “one stop shop” mindset for the industry.

Business Minister Richard Harrington said: “Self-driving vehicles have the potential to revolutionise the way we move people and goods across the UK.

“Today’s funding will bring self-driving vehicles one step closer to becoming a normal feature on UK roads and could, in time, make learning to parallel park a thing of the past.”

Now is an exciting time for vehicle technology, with new developments set to transform the driving experience in the years ahead.

Copyright Press Association 2018.