Aurrigo tees up autonomous world first at the Wales Open
• Autonomous shuttle to be used at a live sporting event for the first time ever
• Aurrigo shuttle has been designed to be Covid-19 secure
• Offers potential blueprint for first and last mile travel solutions going forward
Some of the world’s best golfers will be part of a global first demonstration when the
European Tour rolls into the Celtic Manor Resort for the ISPS Handa Wales Open
today.
Golfers and their caddies will be among the first professional sportspeople ever to be
transported in an autonomous shuttle.
Coventry-based Aurrigo is behind the innovation and will be running a driverless
transport service from the famous Twenty Ten Club House to the 1st tee.
The shuttle, which can normally carry up to 12 people, has been redesigned
specifically for the tournament to follow all Covid-19 rules, with three twin bench
seats able to carry a golfer and their caddie two metres apart. A touchless sanitiser
unit is available as you enter the vehicle and masks/gloves will be available for
additional protection.
Lidars*, cameras and inertial** navigation technology guide the vehicle throughout its
journey and an exciting partnership with Vodafone provides the 4G real-time data
connectivity via their cellular communications network.
The data can then be viewed by the Aurrigo fleet management system to remotely
monitor and track the vehicles.
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, commented: “This is a really exciting milestone for our
business and this technology, as it will be the first time ever in the world that
sportspeople will be carried by an autonomous vehicle at a live event.
“We have been working extremely closely with the European Tour and the players to
redesign the inside of the shuttle to ensure that it is fully Covid-19 secure, whilst our
new technology partnership with Vodafone will provide vital connectivity.”
He continued: “Our engineering team will be based at the Celtic Manor Resort to
oversee the shuttle’s operations, which will be running for the duration of the ISPS
Handa Wales Open. In total, we expect to make over 100 driverless journeys.”
Aurrigo, which operates from its Advanced Centre of Engineering in Coventry, has
been developing the shuttle for the last two years since it was appointed to be part of
the Government’s CCAV Smart Cambridge’s T-CABS project to deliver the UK’s first
autonomous bus route.
The shuttle is constructed from high strength composite materials to create a
lightweight, efficient vehicle structure offering a range of up to 124 miles on a single
charge using a 96V lithium power pack coupled with a 22KW electric motor.
Before Covid-19, it was expected to seat 12 people and has the option to safely
accommodate wheelchair passengers.
David continued: “The Celtic Manor Resort heard about our new autonomous shuttle
and invited us to see if we could adopt a solution that could provide driverless
transport for players competing in the Wales Open.
“It was such a big opportunity to showcase our technology in front of a global
audience that we accepted the challenge and have come up with a Covid-19 secure
autonomous vehicle that is a blueprint for other transport solutions.
“We believe it is the only EV shuttle of its kind that can be switched between
operating autonomously or driven by an operator using a conventional steering
wheel and pedals.
“This versatility has been a huge hit with a raft of global clients registering their
interest for deploying them in leisure, retail, airports and industrial space.”
Anne Sheehan, Director at Vodafone UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see our leading
connectivity playing a pivotal role in making this event happen. We’re always looking
at ways in which our technology can overcome the challenges brought about by
Covid-19.
Transport Minister Rachel Maclean concluded: “This is a global-first for the sporting
world and I’m excited to see how this technology develops as we look to secure the
UK’s position as a world-leading innovator.
“Self-driving vehicle technology is crucial for the transport revolution happening today
in the UK, which is why milestones such as this are so important – helping to make
everyday journeys greener, safer, more flexible and more reliable.”
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