Munich, Germany

London-based design studio PriestmanGoode is working with autonomous network transit (ANT) company Dromos Technologies to develop an electric autonomous vehicle for high-capacity urban transport.

The team comprised of PriestmnGoode, Buro Happold, and Rider Levett Bucknalll, together with Dromos promise high-density urban passenger and freight transport at half the cost/space/time and highest passenger convenience.

The first installation of the design concept will be in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Construction, property and management consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) have won a tender for the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM), a new public transport network serving Cambridge and its wider region.

The four companies joined forces to develop a pioneering concept design for the delivery of a new autonomous public transport network led by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). The ground-breaking project includes a new autonomous vehicle, physical and digital infrastructure, and cutting-edge control systems.

The customer experience of the new end-to-end transport system will be world-leading, while protecting the environment and contributing to economic growth across Cambridgeshire.

Increasing urbanization leads to ever-growing requirements for efficient mobility – especially in the area of high-volume mass transportation in our cities around the globe.

In 2050, two-thirds of the global population will live in large agglomerations.

PriestmanGoode was selected to develop the visual design for the vehicles following an international competition.

The judges were impressed by the way PriestmanGoode had developed a modular vehicle with the user experience at its heart and that allows maximum flexibility of use.

Small autonomous and electric vehicles running on demand at short headways achieve passenger throughput until now only feasible with rail or BRT solutions.

Like all high-volume public transport, Dromos will operate on its own dedicated infrastructure which allows for safe and fast service.

We are excited to develop designs for showcasing how to solve passenger transport with 21st-century technology.

Lars Herold, CEO of Dromos Technologies

“We were impressed with PriestmanGoode’s design expertise and experience with high capacity transport vehicles. Their ability to understand both passenger and business needs means they’re the ideal partner to design a vehicle for our high capacity system, which re-imagines mass transit for the 21st century.”

“Moreover, their wide range of skills from design, CX, material development and visualization means we’re able to work more efficiently, with an integrated design approach, ” comments Herold.

The competition brief from Dromos was to design a safe, reliable and affordable vehicle around principles of innovation, modularity, sustainability, convenience, maintainability and versatility.

Dromos provides customers with an on demand and safe transport solution using autonomous vehicles, which can provide disabled access and accommodate large items like luggage or bikes. Dromos operates on small, lightweight and dedicated infrastructure.

Heralding the next generation of medium and high-capacity transport, the Dromos ANT system delivers rail system levels of capacity at half the cost, space requirements and construction time compared with legacy metro, light rail, trackless tram and bus rapid transit technology.

‘We designed the vehicle around the user. We thought about what types of passengers would use the vehicle, what they would carry, what they would do, what accessibility requirements they might have… it’s been designed from the inside out. Every element has been considered to ensure that Dromos is flexible and suitable for a wide range of users,” states Dan Window, Creative Director at PriestmanGoode.

“This type of mass transit has become even more relevant now,” states Paul Priestman, Designer and Chairman of PriestmanGoode.

“Not only does it answer the first and last mile problem, which is one of the key issues we’re always trying to solve in public transport, but it’s also particularly suitable for a post-pandemic world where passengers are more concerned about hygiene and safety. It enables us to maintain high volumes of passengers, whilst enabling social distancing, as passengers would share vehicles only with their own travel party.”

Justin Phillips, Partner and Global Head of Rail and Transit at Buro Happold, said “We are delighted to be supporting the CPCA realise the potential for a first of a kind step change in mobility, sustainability and technology for the City of Cambridge, and its surrounding growth corridors.

Technology and transit are moving at pace and it’s critical for CAM to avoid expensive, time-consuming and potentially redundant outcomes.

New approaches and innovations with autonomous vehicles inevitably keep evolving.

Buro Happold will help the AG Dromos led the team to develop an initial design concept that will bring about a truly adaptive, realistically scalable and cost-effective solution.

The concept will also bring the ability for early delivery and best aligns to the pressing growth ambition for this critical region to the UK economy.

And of equal importance, the team will provide practical outcomes that gives critical consideration to the environmental impact, and minimize disruption during construction and operation.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer, said: “The CAM will bring the world-leading, innovative and transformational public transport network that this region needs to continue to thrive.”

Project: Electric Autonomous Network Transit Vehicle
Designers: PriestmanGoode
Engineers: Buro Happold
Construction and Property Management: Rider Levett Bucknall
Manufacturer: Dromos Technologies