Engineering news
A total of 41 organisations will share the money from the government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (Trig), announced today (21 March) by technology minister Anthony Browne.
This year’s winning projects include RAD Propulsion, which is creating a prototype boat for ‘last blue mile’ parcel deliveries on UK waterways, aiming to cut road congestion and improve air quality.
Unitrove will explore using its liquid hydrogen refuelling technology for aircraft, while OpenSpace hopes to use AI to tackle rail station disruption, using algorithms to optimise passenger flow.
Other winners include Duku, which aims to test its maritime charger for small electric ferries and sightseeing vessels, and the University of Strathclyde, which will use data analysis to identify the best sites for electric lorry charging.
The Trig scheme is designed to support businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research.
Decarbonisation, aviation and technology minister Browne said: “We’re at the dawn of a new age for transport – AI can now help tackle universal challenges like station overcrowding or road congestion, by using our historic waterways to deliver parcels by self-driving boat.
“These hugely exciting initiatives represent the best of British innovation, showing it’s UK companies, backed by government funding, that are leading the way in this field, creating jobs and boosting our economy.”
The grant is delivered in collaboration with the Connected Places Catapult.
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