Staffordshire tech firm aims to make the UK a self-driving force

A Staffordshire tech company is helping to fill a critical gap in the UK’s sovereign supply chain for developing Connected and Autonomous Mobility (CAM) solutions.

AIM Technologies, which counts Audi, BMW, Tesla, and Ferrari among its stellar list of clients, is developing a pioneering platform to power the self-driving and smart vehicles of tomorrow.

The Drive-by-Wire (DBW) project – funded by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) – is creating an affordable, OEM fit, universal, safety critical compliant hardware interface that can be integrated into any vehicle, from passenger cars to shuttles and even excavators.

The CAM industry – which includes self-driving cars and other forms of self-driving and connected vehicles – is expected to be worth $13billion globally by 2030, according to research from Fortune Business Insights.

One of the biggest barriers facing manufacturers of such mobility solutions however is ensuring their vehicles are affordable and most importantly, safe, which is where the tech experts at AIM have stepped in, with years working in different markets supplying ISO compliant power management and safety controllers, offering a solution.

A key component of self-driving vehicles is the Drive-By-Wire (DBW) system that provides a safe interface between the autonomous control system and the vehicle controls (e.g. steering, braking, power etc). The diverse set of vehicles and applications, each with their own distinct vehicle architecture, makes this a significant challenge to achieve safely and affordably.

The Drive-by-Wire platform however addresses this need, providing a redundant control system that can be installed in any vehicle, with a standard interface with the autonomous control system.

In use since 2016, DBW has already been deployed across a range of vehicles but by making it suitable for vehicle automation, AIM Technologies – through its subsidiary, Evie Autonomous – is aiming to deliver a low-cost flexible and scalable platform that helps put the UK at the heart of this rapidly growing global industry, while accelerating the pace of the development and deployment of CAM solutions.

Steve Lake, CEO of Evie Autonomous, said: “Our technology offers cutting-edge, reliable solutions which can be applied across a range of industries, including automotive manufacturing, motorsport, and autonomous transport.

“By developing this key self-driving component in-house, it is also enabling us to achieve affordable autonomy while filling a critical gap in the UK’s sovereign supply chain. It could be a real paradigm shift for both the domestic CAM and tech sectors.”

The DBW system has already been integrated into Evie’s level 4 Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) pods, and several of its own level 4 autonomous vehicles, such as a JCB loader to a 52-seater airside bus, marking significant marking significant steps toward vehicle-level testing in partnership with several manufacturers and the Transport Research Laboratory.

Thanks to funding and support from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), Innovate UK and Zenzic however, the DBW project is now aiming to conduct further research and development to create even more viable, scalable solutions for autonomous transport in both industrial and commercial sectors. “Our in-house team includes world-class experts in both technology and commercial deployment, and they are really driving this project,” Steve added.

“Their capabilities span the entire development cycle of fully autonomous systems, from hardware to software stacks, and innovative AI technologies, all of which are designed to meet the needs of a growing global market for sustainable, automated transport.

“By working in collaboration with Innovate UK, CCAV and Zenzic, our aim is very much to continue pushing the boundaries of autonomous vehicle technology, delivering safe, reliable, and scalable solutions, while paving the way for the UK to become a world-leader in the development and deployment of CAM solutions.”

Zenzic was set up by the UK Government and industry to provide the support and funding required to help grow the UK’s CAM sector and has provided funding and support through its CAM Supply Chain UK programme and its CAM Testbed, which will allow the AIM Technologies and Evie Autonomous teams to test the software in real-life environments.

Mark Cracknell, Program Director at Zenzic, said: “It has been fantastic working with everyone involved in the DBW project and helping to demonstrate its commercial and practical viability.

“The work already conducted on Evie Autonomous’ JCB 403E vehicle and the Evie PRT Pod has generated some fantastic results and we are confident that, through utilising the CAM Testbed for further trials and refining the technology, it can help to plug a significant gap in the CAM supply chain while becoming yet another fantastic success story for UK tech.”