Major announcements at the Ottawa Autonomous Vehicle Summit
Article by Marie-France Laurin | April 2018
Several large-scale projects were announced at the Ottawa Autonomous Vehicle Summit that took place on April 4. More than 300 people attended the third edition of the event that brought together private Canadian and international companies and representatives from all levels of government. Panel discussions were held on four main topics:
- Charting AV/CV technology opportunities and challenges
- Urban planning and emerging mobility trends
- Creating policies for a new AV world
- The evolution of Canada’s AV capital
The Ottawa International Airport took the opportunity to announce an autonomous vehicle pilot project for the shuttle between the terminal and passenger parking. Further details will be released about the project deployment and players.
The British autonomous vehicle manufacturer RDM introduced its vehicle, PodZero, and announced the opening of a Canadian division that will operate under the name Aurrigo.
Presented by the Kanata North Business Association and Invest Ottawa, in partnership with CAVCOE (the Canadian Automated Vehicle Centre of Excellence), the summit was a resounding success. It was a wonderful opportunity for stakeholders to network and see that the challenges associated with new forms of mobility are shared by all Canadian cities. But that together, through springboard events such as this one, we can shine on the world stage.
About Marie-France Laurin
Marie-France Laurin became a consultant in smart mobility, autonomous vehicles and smart cities in October 2017. Prior to that, she worked for an international operator as Director of Brand Management, Public Affairs and Strategic Development, where she was in charge autonomous vehicles and their demonstration in Canada. She also worked with telecommunications companies, where she introduced new technologies to consumers.
Marie-France holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications as well as an MBA in international marketing and management, both from HEC Montréal.
