To help meet this ambition the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), in partnership with Innovate UK (IUK), is launching this competition to invest in industry-led projects that will use holistic simulation and modelling systems to develop approval mechanisms and standards that will be needed to deploy CAVs on public roads. This work will support the development and deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles, and help make sure they will receive approval in the future.

Whilst it is not realistic to test every combination of sensor input and driving situation, regulators and manufacturers need to be confident that the vehicle control system (VCS) can operate effectively at a whole system level across the full range of situations it is likely to encounter.

Physical testing involves a limited number of use cases on a defined set of test routes. It is difficult to calculate the number of miles an autonomous vehicle (AV) would have to drive to test all situations, but it is generally accepted this would be expensive, time consuming and impractical. Simulation, modelling and testing has the potential to fill this gap and enable the rigorous, controlled and timely evaluation and development of VCSs.

This competition is for collaborative research and development (R&D) projects. It is the first stage of CCAV’s approach to enhancing the UK’s testing ecosystem through simulation and modelling. Project teams should consider how their proposal will enhance the UK’s testing ecosystem.

Up to £15 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. Projects are expected to have total costs ranging from £500,000 to £5 million and last for up to two years.

All projects must be collaborative and a UK business (of any size) must lead the project. The project must be carried out in the UK. Collaborators can be other businesses, research organisations, public sector organisations or charities.