German tech company ZF invests in Oxbotica

German technology company ZF, which supples systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, has invested in autonomous vehicle software company Oxbotica.

With the lack of delivery drivers reaching pandemic levels, high street retailer Wilko is investing in autonomous delivery company, Streetdrone.

The £3 million investment, part of a wider multi-million-pound preseries A round, will enable Oxfordbased Streetdrone to accelerate the development of its autonomous delivery vehicle and systems.

Streetdrone wants to deploy driverless delivery vehicles on UK roads by the end of next year and is working with vehicle safety agencies to define the standards by which these technologies will be allowed to operate on public roads.

Jerome Saint-Marc, CEO of Wilko, said: “Autonomous vehicles are the future of automated logistics, and Streetdrone is undoubtedly one of the key players that will lead the way in making this technology viable.

"It is one of the companies that’s putting the UK on the map in developing this type of gamechanging technology."

ZF and Oxbotica plan to develop a selfdriving system that can be integrated into vehicles including Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) shuttles to provide on-demand passenger and goods vehicles in urban environments, which it intends to deploy in passenger shuttles in major cities around the world.

The autonomous shuttle market will grow substantially over the next 10 years with the potential to increase access to improve road safety, reduce congestion and boost productivity.

The two companies started working together in 2019, with Oxbotica completing integration of its autonomous vehicle software with ZF’s ProAI, an artificial intelligence capable automotive-grade computer platform, and ZF’s Full-Range Radar.

Ahead of the autonomous shuttle deployments, ZF and Oxbotica will continue to develop their technology.

Oxbotica was founded in 2014 as an Oxford University spin-out with a mission to develop autonomy software that will transform all industries where people and goods move.

Williams Advanced Engineering collaborates on electric aircraft

Williams Advanced Engineering in Oxfordshire is collaborating with USAbased Skyworks Aeronautics on the design, fabrication, and testing of Skyworks’ eGyro electrically powered aircraft.

Skyworks Aeronautics says it is a world leader in the science and technology of gyronautics, focusing on the design and development of crewed and uncrewed gyroplanes and gyrocopters with gaspowered, hybrid-electric and fully electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) options.

Electrification of the powertrain has enabled innovative design solutions that are no longer restricted by conventional technologies.

Using highly advanced technology and modern aerospace science, engineering, and design methods, the company is striving to make air travel safer, more costefficient and effective.

The company has been developing manned and unmanned vertical lift gyroplane technologies for more than two decades.

Williams Advanced Engineering also has years of experience working with the likes of Airbus to develop the Zephyr recordbreaking high altitude unmanned aerial system.

Paul McNamara, Technical Director, Williams Advanced Engineering said:

“Aerodynamics, lightweight advanced materials and electrification are core competencies for us – and we’re looking forward to applying them to the eGyro, which seems set to redefine the gyroplane bringing about a step change in aeronautical e-mobility.”