Autonomous specialist, Aurrigo has launched Australia’s first ever driverless mobility service in a retirement lifestyle village.
Aurrigo, in collaboration with Regional Development Australia, has launched the ‘world first’ autonomous vehicle trial at the Lendlease-owned Elliot Gardens retirement village at Port Elliot.
The trial will showcase how autonomous technology can deliver improved mobility for the 330 residents living in 194 villa homes at the 27-hectare village.
One of the company’s three PodZero driverless vehicles, which have been operating at the Tonsley Innovation District as part of the South Australian government’s Future Mobility Lab Fund programme since late 2017, are being assigned to the trial.
The battery powered pods operate autonomously through multiple sensor technologies with speeds up to 24 kmph and can seat up to four passengers or small cargo transport.
Roger Van Der Lee, Director Autonomous Programs APAC for Aurrigo, said the opportunity to meet a demand for mobility services for senior citizens in a range of retirement living situations utilising our driverless technology is very important.
“This trial will provide user feedback on the real-life experience of an autonomous mobility service and the performance of the pod, which will contribute to future service and technical developments,” said Van Der Lee.
The trial, which includes an independent research programme conducted by the Global Centre for Modern Ageing, is the latest breakthrough development for Coventry’s Aurrigo.
