Published on: 4 March 2024
A self-driving shuttle bus will help passengers reach Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) will see the buses take to the city's streets.
The service will create a new link for passengers. The buses will also visit Sunderland Interchange and the University of Sunderland's City Campus.
The project will also offer training opportunities and new cutting-edge skills.
The shuttle will soon be transporting passengers when it takes to the streets this spring.
Following its arrival, training will now begin on operator training. This will give the on-board safety attendants skills to oversee and manage autonomous operations.
This training will start next month and ensure the service runs safely.
Preparations are underway to start the mapping of the route. By doing this, those in charge aim to make the most of its capabilities. It will also ensure seamless travel experiences for passengers.
The SAMS project will trial three self-driving zero emission autonomous shuttles. These have been designed by Aurrigo. This is a design, engineering and manufacturing company.
Safety operators will always be onboard. The project will develop as it works towards commercial deployment.
The shuttle will run along an "intelligent transport corridor". This will use 5G small cells. These are being installed along the vehicle route by Boldyn Networks.
The project has been awarded £3 million by the government. This has been matched by industry to a total £6 million.
The SAMS initiative is one of six successful CAM Deployment UK projects from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) Deployment competition.
The grants, which are part of the CCAV’s “Connected and Automated Mobility” programme, are supported by CCAV, Innovate UK and Zenzic.
The project is led by Sunderland City Council in partnership with Aurrigo, Stagecoach, ANGOKA Ltd, Newcastle University, Swansea University and Boldyn Networks.
Patrick Melia is Chief Executive is Sunderland City Council.
He said:
"As we prepare to welcome the Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle to our city streets, we are embarking on an exciting journey towards a more connected and sustainable future,.
"SAMS represents a significant leap forward in our efforts to embrace innovation and improve the quality of life for our residents.
"We look forward to seeing the positive impact this self-driving shuttle will have on urban mobility across Sunderland."
Sunderland's Mayor, Councillor Dorothy Trueman, said:
"We are thrilled to welcome the innovative SAMS shuttle to Sunderland, marking the beginning of a new era in urban mobility for our residents and visitors.
"The arrival of SAMS signifies Sunderland and the wider region's position as a forward-thinking location, leading the way in adopting transformative technologies that enhance the lives of our community members."
Richard Fairchild, chief operations officer at Aurrigo.
He said:
"Collaborating with technology leaders at Sunderland City Council and other project partners to develop plans into real-world solutions is a significant step forward in research for self-driving vehicles operating on public roads.
"With the arrival of the SAMS shuttle, Sunderland is poised to emerge as a trailblazer in the realm of self-driving transportation, setting a precedent for other cities to follow in the quest for smarter, more efficient mobility solutions."
To find out more about SAMS and follow the project’s progress, see https://sunderlandoursmartcity.com/SAMS
More information is available via SAMS project page Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle - Zenzic or the CAM Deployment UK page on the Zenzic website at CAM Deployment UK - Zenzic.
