Imperium Drive’s Fetch vehicle system is revolutionizing the way people travel in Milton Keynes, UK. The system uses ‘driverless’ cars that are remotely controlled by an operator in an office, using cellular networks and a series of cameras to offer a full 360-degree view of the road. Customers can hail a Fetch vehicle using a mobile app if they live within four miles of Milton Keynes city center, and it is then delivered without a driver. The system is not quite autonomous, but Imperium Drive is targeting full autonomy, which it believes “has the potential to replace private car ownership in the UK.”

Fetch’s model allows customers to order a vehicle on demand that will turn up at their doorstep and take them where they want in central Milton Keynes. It is, in essence, a taxi-like service that negates the need to own a car and promises to be more affordable than traditional cabs by removing the human driver from the vehicle. Fetch hopes to scale from five cars to around 50 by the end of the year.

## How Remote Driving Works

Fetch’s remote driving system uses redundant mobile networks to ensure safety and minimize delays over the network. In the event of a critical latency, Fetch triggers what is termed a “minimum risk maneuver,” where a car brings itself to a stop autonomously via on-board tech. While remote drivers clearly need to own a conventional driving license, there isn’t one for remote operation – a concern for the Law Commission. One idea it proposes is an ERDO (Entity for Remote Driving Operation) permit, where a company that is licensed to operate takes responsibility for the competence of its employees.

## Safety and Liability

The Law Commission advises that if at fault, remote drivers should be prosecuted for the same offenses as in-vehicle drivers. But they should not be held responsible for problems outside their control, such as “connectivity issues or faulty remote driving equipment.” In those circumstances, companies should face sanctions and potentially prosecution. The Law Commission is unequivocal about remotely driving a vehicle from overseas, stating that it should be prohibited due to concerns over a lack of enforcement powers in foreign jurisdictions.

## Potential for Widespread Uptake

The belief is that reluctant private car owners may be tempted to give up their own wheels for the blend of cost-effectiveness and convenience offered by remotely controlled cars. Fetch hopes to scale from five cars to around 50 by the end of the year. Whether that is viable remains to be seen, but with the Law Commission’s report being interpreted as a step in the right direction for the industry, regulation may increase the probability of seeing more remote-control cars on our roads.

## Competitors in the Space

Fetch isn’t the only company competing in this space. In Germany, Berlin-based Vay is promoting its own version of the tech, which it labels ‘teledriving’. Vay recently received permission to operate cars without any human safety operators in Hamburg, the first time this has been allowed in Europe. In addition, at MWC in February, it showed how a car in Berlin could be controlled by a teleoperator in Barcelona.

## Conclusion

Imperium Drive’s Fetch vehicle system is changing the way people travel in Milton Keynes, UK. The system uses ‘driverless’ cars that are remotely controlled by an operator in an office, using cellular networks and a series of cameras to offer a full 360-degree view of the road. While it is not quite autonomous, Imperium Drive said it is targeting full autonomy, which it believes “has the potential to replace private car ownership in the UK.” Fetch hopes to scale from five cars to around 50 by the end of the year, and with the Law Commission’s report being interpreted as a step in the right direction for the industry, regulation may increase the probability of seeing more remote-control cars on our roads.