Starting today, passengers at Inverness Airport will get the opportunity to ride in an Aurrigo autonomous Auto-Pod from the new rail station to the airport terminal.
The pilot, which will run until August 30th, will see two types of automated people movers trialled – the smaller Auto-Pod at Inverness Airport and the larger Auto-Shuttle at the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Inverness Campus.
The Highlands and Islands region is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, but its rugged terrain and dispersed population present significant transportation challenges.
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 distance from the railway station to the terminal is 1.2km, and the Auto-Pod will be covering about 750m of the journey.
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 is 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 significantly decrease CO2 emissions, contributing to Scotland’s NetZero goals.
Prof. David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo noted “Operating at Inverness Airport highlights the diverse environments where our 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.”
HITRANS Director Ranald Robertson added his support: “HITRANS is 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.’
Project partners include the University of Glasgow, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Aurrigo International plc, Stagecoach North Scotland, and Darwin Innovation Group Ltd. It is funded through Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ (“CCAV”) Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility (“CAM”) competition.
