Autonomous transport company Aurrigo has improved its driverless vehicle’s capabilities in a project with Aston University.

Aurrigo’s airport Auto-Dolly is now able to differentiate between many different objects

The two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the university developed a new machine vision solution, using machine learning and artificial intelligence that means the Coventry-based company’s driverless vehicles are now able to see and recognise objects in greater detail. This results in improved performance across a wider spectrum of test situations.

Previously the company’s driverless vehicles were only capable of detecting that there was an object in their path, not the type of object, so would just stop when they encountered something in their way.

The new computer vision systems, coupled with machine learning and artificial intelligence, are now able to differentiate between different objects, enabling Aurrigo’s airport Auto-Dolly to differentiate between many different objects airside.

Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, said: “This partnership has allowed us to produce a system which has resulted in our vehicles becoming smarter and more capable and enabled us to expand our operations, particularly with baggage handling in airports worldwide.”

Dr George Vogiatzis, senior lecturer in computer science at Aston University, added: “This KTP has been a great way for us to work with a new industrial partner whilst applying our expertise in deep learning and robotics to the exciting field of autonomous vehicles.

“It is very rewarding to see the success of this collaboration.”

The project findings will also be applied to other vehicles in the Aurrigo product range.