{"id":20877,"date":"2017-06-12T11:42:11","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T09:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/?p=20877"},"modified":"2025-12-12T00:41:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:41:34","slug":"navya-arma-autonomous-vehicles-heathrow-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2017\/06\/navya-arma-autonomous-vehicles-heathrow-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Autonomous vehicles will be here sooner than you think"},"content":{"rendered":"

Road vehicle technology is on the verge of transformational change in the coming years.\u00a0 Increasingly vehicles will be powered by cleaner electric traction, <\/strong>and it will be the progressive introduction of connected<\/strong> and autonomous vehicles<\/strong> that will be the main disrupter.<\/p>\n

Electric and autonomous vehicles are the key<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When technological developments have caused major disruptions, it is often from combining multiple technologies rather than from a single breakthrough innovation. \u00a0There are several barriers in the way of adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles, but we can be somewhat optimistic that combining these technologies will be the \u2018key enabler\u2019.<\/p>\n

Our current challenge is to identify and remove barriers to success by trialling the technology. \u00a0In the case of electric vehicles, we\u2019ve learnt that range needs to be improved, more charging points are required, and power infrastructure must be able to meet future demand. As for driverless cars, successful adoption relies on human acceptance. \u00a0The vehicles themselves must demonstrate their safety and reliability <\/strong>as well as prevention to cyber attacks<\/strong>. \u00a0As ever regulation and legislation<\/strong> (including insurance liability) will need to keep pace with technological developments.<\/p>\n

Piloting in the airport<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before autonomous vehicles take to the streets they must undergo rigorous pilot testing. \u00a0With their controlled environments, airports can be the perfect place<\/strong> for this.<\/p>\n

Over the last ten years Heathrow Airport,\u00a0<\/a> has actively supported both academic research and technological innovation. \u00a0Already Heathrow has \u2018driverless\u2019 technology – the \u2018Pods\u2019 <\/a>– which run on a 3.8km track connecting airport parking with Terminal 5. \u00a0These are immensely popular with passengers and have seen a saving of 100 tonnes of CO2 per annum.<\/p>\n

\"navya<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier in January, Heathrow\u2019s Innovation group hosted a three-day event to show-case autonomous electric technology. \u00a0In what was the first UK demonstration of its kind, the airport organised an opportunity for the whole Heathrow Community to see and hear about autonomous technology and a ride in a driverless vehicle.\u00a0 The purpose was to evaluate the impact of this technology, demonstrate the safety features of the vehicles and start the wider debate on what \u2018autonomous\u2019 means to Heathrow.<\/p>\n

\"navya<\/a><\/p>\n

Navya ARMA vehicles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The vehicle used was the Navya ARMA<\/a>, which was first launched by Lyon and Paris-based company NAVYA in October 2015, and is 100% electric. \u00a0This innovating and intelligent driverless shuttle can transport up to 15 passengers, and safely drive up to 45 km\/h. \u00a0The design is the fruits of ten years of research and expertise, which allows it to achieve the highest level of autonomy, possibly making the ARMA the first entirely autonomous series vehicle. \u00a0The ARMA has already carried over 100,000 passengers in seven countries worldwide.<\/p>\n

The technical design of the ARMA resides on three transversal pillars:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Perception – which enables the understanding of the environment in which the vehicle is located<\/li>\n
  • Detecting obstacles – anticipating displacements decision which computes and determines its itinerary and trajectory<\/li>\n
  • Navigation – which applies and follows the optimal route computed for the vehicle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Beyond the airport<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Use of these vehicles is beginning to extend to other sites such as theme parks, large university campuses, and even cities themselves. \u00a0The Government fully supports this development and the UK is \u201cone of the best countries for car makers and others to develop and test these technologies because of; permissive regulations, a thriving automotive sector and excellent research base and innovation infrastructure\u201d.<\/p>\n

    Heathrow is part of the GATEway<\/strong> project<\/a> that is testing a driverless shuttle in London based on the Heathrow POD design.<\/p>\n

    Greenwich is one of four places in the UK where driverless cars are being trialled to gauge public reaction.\u00a0 Tests will run for three months initially with specially invited guest passengers, and subsequently with the general public.\u00a0 Each car can carry up to six passengers, with a member of staff must be on board at all times to press the emergency button in the event of a problem.\u00a0 Here is a news report<\/p>\n