Academy of Robotics, the developer of the autonomous delivery vehicle (ADV) “Kar-go,” has expanded its autonomous delivery trials to include Surrey. Scheduled to begin in mid-February, Kar-go will deliver parcels during the trial from local businesses to their customers’ residences. 

Kar-go uses public roads to travel; therefore, the trials will be conducted adhering to current UK regulations, which require a safety driver on board. The degree of autonomy is to be enhanced in the future upon the successful progression of the trials. 

This is the second trial for Kar-go, after its first began last November, to deliver medical supplies from pharmacies to care homes and residencies in Hounslow, Greater London. The company also revealed its plans for further trials throughout the spring of 2021. 

Kar-go utilizes both AI and driverless technology and can travel up to 60 miles with a single charge. The company’s team can access remote monitoring and supervise the vehicles via its Command Hub, providing additional security to its operations. It uses cameras and software logs to determine the vehicle’s position, allowing remote drivers to monitor and control them.