The project will explore how fuel cell micro-Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems can provide UPS functionality for individual homes as well as support to other nearby homes which depend on direct electrification to provide heat, power and mobility. Fuel cell technology can generate at efficiencies equivalent to the highest efficiency central generation plant even at micro-generation level. Its location within the LV network further ensures that system losses are minimised, by-product heat can be utilised, and local balancing is more easily achieved. This results in increased resilience and lower operating costs for consumers and the energy system.

Black-grass (_Alopecurus myosuroides_) is the UK's most pernicious weed, causing considerable yield losses each year and threatening the sustainability of UK cereal production. Herbicides remain a key component of tactics to control this species, yet evolution of resistance due to overuse threatens their efficacy. Environmental considerations also raise concerns about such widespread herbicide use, including the potential for damaging off-target effects on potentially beneficial species. Finally, the cost to growers of existing herbicidal strategies are becoming prohibitively expensive. Precision spraying of herbicides specifically to weed patches, rather than the whole field, offers the potential to help mitigate these issues, considerably reducing herbicide use whilst maintaining effective control of the weed. To facilitate this, there is a need to develop systems for accurately and rapidly mapping the spatial distribution of the weed within the field, at time-points early enough to enable intervention. Spot application needs to be robust enough to avoid missing weeds and provide sufficient confidence for growers to support their uptake. And finally, software and machinery need to be in place for delivering the targeted, precision herbicide application. This project will enable UK SME Chafer to use the Bosch/BASF 'smart sprayer' concept and technology to develop, build and evaluate a camera-equipped self-propelled sprayer for black-grass mapping and precision patch- or spot-spraying. The artificial intelligence to identify weeds and the ability to generate precise weed maps will allow Rothamsted and BASF to conduct further research. The outcome of the project will allow field data generation to be used for agronomic recommendations. The data will be analysed on the xarvio(tm) platform, and models developed by Rothamsted will be used to develop bespoke recommendations of herbicide choice and variable-rate application of pre- and post-emergence herbicides. These plans will be implemented using precise (individual nozzle) control of herbicide application by the sprayer system, with performance evaluated against conventional 'whole-field' management in herbicide usage, cost reductions, and control efficacy.

This proposal is for a Connected Vehicle data Exchange (ConVEx) facility: an open platform for the commercial exchange of data to enhance and accelerate the development of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). This will help to position the UK as a leader in CAV research and development (R&D) and accelerate anticipated CAV benefits including improved safety, easier access to mobility and more efficient transport. The consortium is led by Bosch, and includes Jaguar Land Rover, Transport for West Midlands, WMG, and three SMEs: Valerann, Synaptiv, and Immense Simulations. InterDigital and Transport Systems Catapult will both support the consortium in their role as subcontractors. The vision for the facility is for a centre that aggregates data relevant to the development and/or operation of CAVs from a diverse range of sources. These data could be already publicly available, available under licence or purchased by the facility. Services will include curation of these datasets within in a single ‘shop window’ for organisations seeking data resources relevant to CAV development and deployment; data cleansing and analyses, drawing together relevant datasets and exploring connections that generate further insights into CAV development, deployment and operation; and enabling organisations to monetise data resources that may have previously been left dormant.

"The overriding demand on all levels of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) will be safety. Any vehicle that moves must have the necessary Situation Awareness (SA) to achieve safe and secure control of the vehicle. It is vital to ensure that the resolution of SA is appropriate to the environment as the demographics of a moving vehicle change. CAVs are being designed with the expectation of ubiquitous communication to the cloud and so will be severely affected by inadequate network coverage due to the cell tower densification issue. The lack of base stations will have the greatest impact on vehicles that operate outside of city centres which is likely to be the norm in the majority of cases. The aim of this project is to test the technical feasibility of a proposed system that will have the ability to maintain 5G Quality of Experience (QoE) access to SA data specifically tailored to CAVs, particularly when outside of closed environments."

"This project is a technical feasibility study to enable the commercial deployment of autonomous systems as part of an integrated mobility system for the Culham Science Park and Science Vale area. The first stage of integrating driverless cars as a key transportation service is to determine what is the optimal positioning of such technology in the immediate and further future (5/10/15 year steps). In MaaS:CAV, the case will be made for integrating Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), SAE level 4 and above, as part of a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) systems in Culham area, and how this can be later scaled up and/or applied to similar situations. One particular area of interest is the ability of CAVs to provide solutions for the First/Last mile with close-to-market technology. Agent-based modelling will be used to quantify the effect of CAV integration on MaaS at different levels and its broader impact on growth and accessibility. In creating such a radical and innovative transportation system, the question of enabling infrastructure investment rises. It is important to consider what the essential technology is and furthermore, what are business cases from both private and public sectors that can enable it. To model this, we initially built an understanding of demand picture (O/D and current mode use) around Science Vale, Didcot Parkway and surrounding villages, then focusing on Culham. Moreover, we will investigate the current attitudes towards CAVs (interviews, questionnaires) and the user profiles to find the best way to promote adoption. We will explore a case study based on a technology application in development by one of the consortium partners to create traffic-light-free intersections for CAVs, to examine the viability from local government and private sector perspectives, based on modelling of its effect that will be carried out. MaaS:CAV will examine a real-world setting and emerging technology to develop a roadmap to allow CAVs to integrate for the integration of CAVs into a practicable MaaS system. MaaS:CAV will be delivered by a diverse and world-leading consortium, including research institutions, industry and local authorities. The outcome of this study will be useful to guide the integration of CAVs into a MaaS platform and how the associated government and industry business cases could be structured. The conclusions will have both immediate impacts to the area used for the study as well as being scaleble across the Oxfordshire and applicable to similar regions in the UK and abroad."

The MOVE-UK project will help the UK to become a world leader in the development of automated and driverless cars. The project partners (Bosch, Jaguar Land Rover, TRL, Direct Line Group, The Floow and the Royal Borough of Greenwich) will speed up the entry of automated, driverless car technologies to the motor market. The project will allow these technologies to be developed and tested more rapidly and at lower cost to manufacturers. Driverless systems will be tested in the real world, providing large amounts of data that will be used to develop and improve the technology. These technologies will not control the test vehicles but will generated information which will be fed into a unique data store. This data store will allow us to develop new, faster ways of improving and demonstrating the safety of the automated driving systems. We will also use this information to provide “smart cities” with new ways to improve services for residents and the environment; to help us understand how detailed data from cars can be used in the future to benefit drivers; and, to help the project partners to understand the how driverless technologies will change their businesses in the future.

An innovative research project led by Jaguar Land Rover, LAtiTuDE investigates new technologies for the Ingenium engine family to improve on its class-leading fuel efficiency whilst maintaining the in-vehicle feel Jaguar and Land Rover customers expect. The collaboration brings together leading expertise from UK engineering organisations Ricardo and GRM, and suppliers Borg Warner and Bosch. The collaborative partnership will research a variable geometry, multi-stage and electronic boosting system integrated with an advanced engine combustion system incorporating leading edge fuel injection equipment and controls. Allied with an optimised engine structure, the research package is targeted to deliver over 10% fuel economy and CO2 improvement compared with current vehicles. The consortium members recognise the importance of collaborative research projects in supporting the UK’s competitiveness and developing skills, innovations and new manufacturing capability throughout the automotive supply chain.

An innovative research project led by Jaguar Land Rover, ALIVE6, - will apply new technologies to the Ingenium engine family, striving to maximize fuel efficiency whilst maintaining the in-vehicle feel Jaguar Land Rover customers expect. The collaboration with Grainger and Worrall, Automotive Insulations and Nifco will research low friction cylinder bore coatings, thermal engine encapsulation and a composite sump respectively. Bosch (UK) Ltd and Mahle Powertrain bring advanced control technologies while downsizing and NVH technologies are supported by FEV UK Ltd and UEES The innovative powertrain technologies will offer improved fuel economy, low weight and excellent transient performance. The consortium members recognise the importance of collaborative advanced research projects supporting initiatives that will expand the UK’s competitiveness and develop skills, innovations and new technologies in the automotive sector and throughout the supply chain.