Driverless cars launched by Oxford University

Oxford University Scientists are planning to introduce the first driverless car on the roads of Great Britain.

The vehicle, a modified military jeep BAE Wildcat will be programmed with a Three-dimensional map of the routes around Oxford and near Woodstock. The scientists intend to ask the Government to approve the vehicle for use on the road opened within the next two months.


The automatic car to use a series of cameras and laser technology, including the use of sensors to calculate the exact location. It is the sense of the presence of other vehicles on the road and to avoid action, where appropriate, something that driverless cars are equipped with GPS-based technology has been unable to do.

Professor Paul Newman, head of Mobile Robotics Group at the University, said that the vehicle had made his first journey driverless last week by the private University Beg waste science park.

"We want to use the normal everyday road, where others would use them. Oxford Central would be nice, also the Woodstock due to variable terrain and roads, "Newman cited. He added that the team member of the research would be in the car during the test to gain control in the event of a crisis. Engineering and physical Sciences Research Council, BAE and Nissan copy driver less car project and the Government has already 2 m pounds in funding the project.

Google led driver less car technology in the United States, where the State of Nevada has approved study of autonomous vehicles on the roads a-1. Legally the cars still require two operators inside the vehicle during the test. Other road users can identify the cars of their unique red plates.