Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has got behind a mobility technology accelerator programme for the county.
Named GoAscendal Labs, the programme is aimed at developing technologies to improve mobility, taking in public transport, cycling and walking.
It is sponsored by Ascendal Accelerator, a joint venture between the combined authority and transport system specialist Ascendal Group, and supported by £965,000 from the Combined Authority Business Board’s Local Growth Fund.
The programme provides the project teams it supports with a collaborative workspace at the depot of local bus service Whippet, a live operational environment to test the technology, and guidance and coaching from industry leaders on technology, financing, public transport operations, business development and marketing.
The first group of four projects to receive support includes the development of software to make public transport demand-responsive, rather than on a fixed timetable, by smart mobility company Nemi.
A company named Shanti is working on a navigation solution to help people find the safest active travel route. It uses open data and proprietary data to show routes with better street lighting, pedestrian traffic and safe road conditions.
Tern Technology is aiming to speed up the shift to electric buses with a cloud based simulation software for collaboration between operators and manufacturers. This can simulate multiple scenarios of future operations, predicting bus performance, charging requirements, and total cost of ownership or carbon footprint.
Another project, led by AirLoop, is focused on an air cleaning system for buses.
Cutting edge innovation
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said: “GoAscendal’s 10-week programme is a great initiative that puts Cambridgeshire at the heart of nurturing cutting edge transport innovation.
“Finding ways to improve our bus services to make them work better for people is a major priority for the combined authority. Opportunities to improve bus technology for the benefit of passengers and transport providers will promote a better, more flexible, clean, and low carbon transport network.
“Alongside technology to improve people’s willingness to cycle and walk, these innovations have the potential to make a big difference to public health and wellbeing while also benefitting new jobs, start-ups and support for our region as a centre of new thinking in the future of transport.”
Image from iStock, YiuCheung
