- Wounded warriors experience self‑driving cars ahead of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018
- Invictus Games competitors give feedback to help develop autonomous vehicles
- Vehicle technology being developed by Jaguar Land Rover could make travel easier for millions of people worldwide
- Fourth Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick armed service personnel and veterans takes place in Sydney from 20‑27 October
Team UK Captain Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins and Italian team member Simone Careddu joined former competitors Jamie Weller and JJ Chalmers to ride in the level 4 autonomous SUV on public roads in Milton Keynes.
The self‑driving vehicle successfully navigated roundabouts, traffic lights, speeds of up to 50mph, junctions and lane changes. These innovations, developed as part of the UK Autodrive Consortium, address technical challenges posed by urban environments including pedestrians, cyclists, security and infrastructure.
The competitors’ feedback will help Jaguar Land Rover understand how autonomous technology could improve the lives of millions of people living with limited mobility. Removing mobility barriers that exist today could enable extraordinary people to achieve extraordinary things – embodying the spirit of the Invictus Games.
Technology has moved on so much, I already feel prehistoric. As my children grow up it will seem extraordinary to them that people used to physically drive cars.
Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins
Invictus Games Sydney 2018 ‑ Team UK Captain
It was a great opportunity to experience the new technology Jaguar Land Rover is developing. It’s exciting to be discussing cars that could be used by visually impaired people. The technology has so many positive benefits for anyone living with a disability.
Jamie Weller
Veteran Royal Navy Aircraft Engineer
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Jaguar Land Rover is working hard to understand perceptions and acceptance of self‑driving vehicles and how to harness those findings to create experiences that improve customers’ lives.
It’s been fantastic to spend time with the Invictus Games competitors, gaining open and honest feedback from people who truly understand what it’s like to have the freedom of driving taken away, whether temporarily or permanently.
The competitors’ insight has been invaluable. We are already working with industry, academia and government to bring self‑driving cars to the roads within the next 10 years, with the ambition of zero accidents, zero emissions and zero congestion for future generations. To add zero mobility barriers to this list would be a huge achievement and something we are striving for.
Jim O'Donoghue
Jaguar Land Rover Autonomous Research Engineer
The Invictus Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. The fourth Invictus Games will take place in Sydney from October 20‑27 2018.
To learn more about the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, visit: www.invictusgames2018.org
Further information
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all‑wheel‑drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.
We employ more than 44,000 people globally and support around 260,000 more through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centred in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, Austria and Slovakia.
At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class‑leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2017 Jaguar Land Rover sold 621,109 vehicles in 130 countries, with more than 80 per cent of our vehicles being sold abroad.
Our innovation is continuous: we will spend in the region of £4.5 billion this year on new product creation and capital expenditure.
From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug‑in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer ultra‑clean petrol and diesel engines.
Notes to Editors
Autonomy
Jaguar Land Rover is developing fully‑ and semi‑automated vehicle technologies to offer customers a choice of an engaged or automated drive, while maintaining an enjoyable and safe driving experience. The company’s vision is to make the self‑driving car viable in the widest range of real‑life, on‑ and off‑road driving environments and weather.
Levels of autonomy
Level 0 ‑ No Automation: There is no automation, the driver is in sole control of the vehicle.
Level 1 ‑ Driver Assistance: The driver has assistance for one function eg cruise control.
Level 2 ‑ Partial Automation: The driver has assistance for two functions eg speed and steering such as Traffic Jam Assist.
Level 3 ‑ Conditional Automation: The car undertakes normal driving functions autonomously in a specific environment but the driver may be required to retake control if the environment is too challenging.
Level 4 ‑ High Automation: The car can operate independently in specific environments such as urban environments or motorways, without any driver intervention.
Level 5 ‑ Full Automation: No human control of the vehicle is needed. The vehicle can complete a journey without any human intervention.
For more information visit uk.media.landrover.com or contact:
Kim Lawrence Palmer | Public Relations Manager, Land Rover UK
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com 07795 666 169
Tracey Tompsett | Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
ttompset@jaguarlandrover.com 07469 032 064