The UK’s first ever fully electric, autonomousbus service will be launching to the public at Milton Park.
This is following the project’s successful demonstration day in January at the Park’s Bee House, attended by local leaders, occupiers, Buses Minister Richard Holden MP and the project’s consortium partners.
Using cutting-edge technology, a 16-seat, single decker minibus combines a range of sensors including radar, LiDAR and optical cameras with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to control all steering, acceleration and braking without the need for human intervention. As a fully electric and zero-emission service, the Mi-Link bus launch marks a pioneering step for the future of sustainable transport and mobility.
Funded by a commercial and private sector partnership as well as the UK Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) through Innovate UK, Mi-Link has been delivered by an experienced and diverse consortium of organisations.
Led by First Bus, the consortium comprising Fusion Processing Ltd, Oxfordshire County Council, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Zipabout with Milton Park (as the host location) has brought this five-year project to fruition.
The innovative bus service offers passengers a free and green mode of travel from the Park’s flexible workspace, the Bee House, to its Milton Feast street food market area in a circular operation. A qualified safety driver is on board at all times, able to take control of the vehicle if required. The bus is also fully accessible for wheelchair and pram users and operates between 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday, running as often as every 15 minutes.