Aurrigo has completed a pilot programme at Inverness Airport, transporting passengers from the railway station in its autonomous shuttles.
The trial, which concluded on 30 August, tested Aurrigo’s smaller Auto-Pod and larger Auto-Shuttle vehicles at Inverness Airport and the University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness Campus.
This project aims to tackle transportation challenges in the Highlands and Islands, which are home to remote areas and limited infrastructure.
Throughout the trial, the Auto-Pod was used to cover 750 metres of the 1.2km journey from the new rail station to the airport terminal.
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.
This trial sought public opinion on autonomous vehicles and assessed the feasibility of introducing a low-cost, on-demand service in the region.
Prof. David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, said:Operating at Inverness Airport highlights the diverse environments where Aurrigo’s automated vehicles can truly make an impact. The aviation industry as a whole offers countless opportunities for this innovative technology to enhance operations, improve safety, and transform the passenger experience.
The project, funded through Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ CAM competition, involved collaboration between the University of Glasgow, HITRANS, Aurrigo International plc, Stagecoach North Scotland, and Darwin Innovation Group Ltd.
Ranald Robertson, Director of HITRANS, said:HITRANS are 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.
