Self-driving vehicles have undergone trials on UK streets for the first time today (11 October).

The LUTZ Pathfinder Project has spent 18 months developing the technology for the autonomous driving system trialled today in Milton Keynes

The Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) is testing the vehicles on pavements around Milton Keynes train station and business district as part of the LUTZ Pathfinder project.

The vehicles are run by software developed by Oxford University’s Oxford Robotics Institute and integrated by Oxford University spinout company Oxbotica on to an electric vehicle. Dubbed Selenium, the software uses data from cameras and LIDAR systems to navigate its way around the environment.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “Today’s first public trials of driverless vehicles in our towns is a ground-breaking moment and further evidence that Britain is at the forefront of innovation.

“The global market for autonomous vehicles present huge opportunities for our automotive and technology firms. And the research that underpins the technology and software will have applications way beyond autonomous vehicles.”

Graeme Smith, CEO at Oxbotica, added: “The TSC’s Lutz pathfinder project is a great example of Oxbotica’s autonomy software leading the way for self-driving vehicles here in the UK.  This is a landmark step to bringing self-driving vehicles to the streets of the UK and the world.”