Partner News: innovITS joins forces to drive future transport technology

Date: 12 December 2007

ERTICO Partner funds partnership to develop ITS and improve the UK’s transport infrastructure.

This unusual partnership has been partially funded by ERTICO - ITS Europe Partner innovITS, the UK ITS Centre of Excellence for Transport Telematics and Sustainable Mobility, has partially funded a partnership between Orange Business Services, automotive technology provider Ricardo, Land Rover, British mapping agency Ordnance Survey and TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of road transport through ITS.

The project has the end goal of developing advanced vehicles which can utilise technologies such as GPS and telemetry to improve fuel efficiency and emissions.

Ricardo together with Land Rover is looking at how to make the vehicles more fuel efficient. Hybrid vehicles which can use both rechargeable battery power and a petrol or diesel engine to maximise efficiency as well as capturing and "recycling" energy which would otherwise be lost in braking, are already available on the market. However, this technology could deliver further benefits if the vehicle’s control systems could be aware of its surroundings and hence adapt its mode of operation depending on upcoming gradients, junctions and known areas of congestion.

Britain’s drivers face increasing road congestion, with the cost to the economy estimated by the CBI to be up to £20 billion. Tom Robinson, senior product group manager, control & electronics, Ricardo, comments: "Even with the green push towards getting people off the roads or using alternative modes of transport, we are seeing an increase in vehicles on the roads and even more traffic. A two-part system which looks at the way vehicles are engineered and routed as well as how our roads are monitored and managed, offers a realistic long-term pathway to help alleviate the UK’s fuel emissions and reduce congestion. Sentience brings together the best of breed in automotive knowledge with advanced tracking and mapping technology."

Orange and Ordnance Survey are heading up the telematics and mapping part of the project, utilising their breadth of network to develop GPS, machine-to-machine and mapping applications to provide the vehicles with the information they need to optimise their performance and lower emissions.

TRL will be contributing to the research throughout the project and will be leading the testing and assessment phase. This will involve undertaking trials to assess the benefits of the vehicle fitted with the prototype engine control system at the TRL test track at their facility in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Anthony Keyworth, Director of Products, Orange Business Services, UK, adds: "This is a fantastic opportunity for very different organisations to bring their specialities together to produce a truly efficient transport system for the future. The investment of both time and funds of all parties involved demonstrates the commitment to developing the UK’s transport sector. It also poses as a good example for future partnerships between UK vertical businesses to work together instead of in competition for a more successful UK industry and economy."

For further information, please contact Noor Kheir on +49 (0)20 7344 1560 or noor.kheir@edelman.com