SAMS (Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle)
Trial Level 4 Autonomous Teleoperated Zero-Emission Shuttles for Urban Mobility in Sunderland.
About the project
This project will help define a more sustainable future for urban mobility.
It will research, build, trial and evaluate the feasibility of deploying a level 4 autonomous teleoperated zero-emission passenger mobility service in Sunderland, increasing connectivity between a key transport interchange and two high-volume destinations: the University of Sunderland City Campus and Sunderland Royal Hospital, via an Intelligent Transport Corridor (ITC). Operated by an established transport provider, it will build on and deliver significant operator and end-user benefits within the Sunderland Smart City programme.
The trial will be delivered by several autonomous zero-emission shuttles, along a 5km route, integrating with/supplementing existing public transport provision.
The service will be underpinned by cyber-resilient 5G-enabled teleoperations, communicating in real-time with ITC/Smart City infrastructure and the regional transport control room (UTMC, where teleoperations will be based). This will ensure traffic optimisation for all road users (especially shuttle users), ultimately enabling a teleoperator to control one-to-many shuttles.
Project Partners
- ANGOKA LIMITED
- BAI COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
- BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LIMITED
- Newcastle University
- RICHMOND DESIGN & MARKETING LIMITED
- Swansea University
- The Council of the City of Sunderland