In late 2021, insurer Aviva and autonomous vehicle operator Darwin Innovation Group launched the Darwin Autonomous Shuttle, marking the UK’s longest-running self-driving passenger service.
After two years of operation, the partners have now teamed up with the University of Salford to introduce a second self-driving shuttle to the service. Like its predecessor, the new shuttle lacks a driver and steering wheel, relying on cameras, LiDAR sensors, 3D maps, and self-driving software for navigation, passenger stops, and obstacle detection. The addition of a second shuttle is designed to provide a deeper understanding of how these vehicles interact with each other in a real-world environment.
Both shuttles currently transport passengers around the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire as part of an ongoing project supported by the European Space Agency and UK Space Agency. The University of Salford hopes to leverage this collaboration to learn more about autonomous vehicle operations, with an eye toward deploying self-driving vehicles in the Manchester area.
Aviva insures both shuttles. Since the original launch, Darwin has shared operational data with Aviva to help refine the understanding of how connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) should be insured. The introduction of a second vehicle will enrich the data set further, supporting Aviva’s ongoing development of insurance products specifically tailored to autonomous vehicles.
Daniela Petrovic, co-founder of Darwin, explained that the addition of a second vehicle accelerates advancements in the CAV software used by both shuttles: “We are testing both vehicles all the time, and improvements in one are immediately deployed in the other.”
One area Darwin is actively exploring is the implementation of on-demand journeys, where passengers can request the shuttle to pick them up at a specified stop along its route. This on-demand feature holds the potential for wider deployment of passenger CAVs in the future, which could reduce reliance on individual cars, particularly in rural locations.
Tom Pitney, Head of Motor at Aviva, said, “The addition of a second shuttle to the autonomous vehicle trial marks an important milestone in our five-year partnership. This trial will give us access to a wealth of rich data, providing valuable insights into claims, underwriting, risk and product areas. This will enable us to be at the forefront of future mobility and ensure that we have products ready to insure the vehicles on our roads as they evolve and change.”
Daniela Petrovic, co-founder of Darwin, added, “As the transportation and insurance industries are interwoven, it’s important for insurers to develop as transport evolves. With the expertise we’ve developed through over two years of autonomous vehicle operation, we’re working closely with Aviva to help make widespread autonomous transport a practical reality.”
