Residents at local retirement village test driverless vehicles

Residents at a Bristol retirement village have participated in a demonstration to see how driverless vehicles, known as CAVs, (Connected and Autonomous Vehicles), could make a difference to their everyday lives and how they get around outside of their homes.

The vehicle, known as a ‘Pod Zero’, was used by older people at St Monica Trust Cote Lane retirement village at the culmination of the world-leading research project called ‘Flourish‘, costing £5.5m.

Launched in 2016 and funded by a range of organisations, including UWE Bristol, it’s the only Innovate UK-funded project of the kind focused on older people.

The new ‘Pod Zero’ at the retirement village

The establishment of CAVs could revolutionise mobility for older adults, reducing loneliness and helping prolong a healthy level of independence.

It is said that the Pod Zero’s specifically could be in operation in enclosed spaces, like the retirement village,  within the next five to ten years.

The collaboration at the St Monica Trust’s Cote Lane retirement village saw participants use an ‘Aurrigo Pod Zero’ a model of CAV’s. Open to people aged 65 and over, the physical demonstrations latest around ten minutes before giving feedback on their experience. A safety ‘driver’ accompanied up to three participants at a time on a planned journey around the site.

Sara Naylor-Wild, director of development and research at St Monica Trust, said: “At St Monica Trust we are constantly continuing to develop our thinking with what we can offer our residents to ensure they live their best lives.

“When we were given the opportunity to host this demonstration it was a no brainier for us, our residents are open to new technologies and they certainly rose to the challenge. The demonstration has been thrilling, it’s such an exciting opportunity and the residents have met it with such enthusiasm.”

The Flourish project works across three specialist areas at UWE Bristol –  the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the Centre for Transport and Society and the Psychological Sciences Research Group.

The design of the vehicles has been the result of continued conversation with older people to identify what they want from driverless vehicles.The consultation process has included older people visiting a simulator in a robotics lab and various workshops and discussion groups.

The project has also considered the design of the cars to, for example adapting them to allow for impaired vision; loss of hearing; restricted mobility; poor movement control and issues with balance and difficulties with speech; memory and attention.

Dr Chris Alford, associate professor in Applied Psychology at UWE Bristol said that the day at Cote Lane retirement home “was a perfect way to conclude the Flourish project”.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Evripidou.

Find out more at www.flourishmobility.com

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