Bristol, United Kingdom :Â Fusion Processing Ltd celebrates exceptional recognition at the Self-Driving Industry Awards 2025, winning two prestigious awards that showcase the company’s breadth of innovation in automated vehicle technology.
The company’s CAVStar® automated drive system powered the Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV to win Vehicle of the Year, whilst Fusion Processing’s work on an Automated Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV) feasibility study received the Design Award, recognising innovation that directly enhances highway worker safety.
The awards were presented by Cars of the Future at the Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate, England.
Design Award: Automated Impact Protection Vehicle
Cars of the Future editor, Neil Kennett, on behalf of the 2025 Self-Driving Industry Awards judging panel, said: “We were delighted to present our Design Award to The Automated Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV) by Fusion Processing. This design addresses one of the most dangerous roles in highway maintenance. Collaborating with Ringway, Colas, TRL and Acklea, this Innovate UK-funded project involves automating the rigs with big flashing lights that alert drivers to the fact that there are workers in the carriageway ahead. It is exactly the kind of safety-focused use case that could only come from a technical specialist embedded in self-driving. Also providing the software for our Self-Driving Vehicle of the Year, The Enviro100 AEV, this Award caps an exceptional 2025 for Fusion.”
The Automated IPV project is part of a feasibility study funded by Innovate UK and delivered in collaboration with highway maintenance companies Ringway and Colas with expertise from TRL and IPV specialist Acklea. The study will explore how Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies can be applied to remove the need for drivers in one of the most dangerous positions in road maintenance.
Vehicle of the Year: Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV
Fusion Processing’s CAVStar® automated drive system represents the cutting edge of autonomous vehicle technology, integrating artificial intelligence and high-performance computing with radar, lidar, and optical camera systems to deliver SAE Level 4 automated driving capability to any drive-by-wire vehicle.
Jim Hutchinson, CEO of Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis’s technology partner and said: “We’re delighted to be recognised with two awards that showcase the versatility and safety focus of our CAVStar® technology. From automated buses that deliver energy savings and enhanced passenger safety to impact protection vehicles that protect highway workers, these awards demonstrate how SAE Level 4 automation can transform multiple sectors. The commercial applications are incredibly exciting, and we’re eager to see how this technology continues to make roads safer in the coming years.”
Cars of the Future Editor, Neil Kennett, commented on behalf of the 2025 Self-Driving Industry Awards judging panel: “We are delighted to present our flagship Self-Driving Vehicle of the Year Award to The Enviro100AEV by Alexander Dennis and Fusion Processing. The reaction to the unveiling of this all-new ‘small big bus’ at last month’s Cenex Expo made up the judges’ minds. It is best in class, designed and built right here in the UK. Using the Fusion CAVStar automated drive system, two of these buses will go into service within a matter of weeks as part of the Connector project in Cambridge. This transformative trial will demonstrate the safe, practical application of SAE Level 4 automation for enhanced accessibility, reduced emissions, reliable and comfortable public transport.”
Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering at Alexander Dennis, accepted the award for the manufacturer and said: “This award for our Enviro100AEV is a fantastic recognition of the groundbreaking work we are doing to explore the technical and commercial opportunities for connected and automated vehicle technology in buses. This has been made possible by the technology partnership with our friends at Fusion Processing, whose automated drive system is at the heart of the exciting advances we look forward to continuing to demonstrate to the self-driving vehicle industry over the coming months and years.”
Current Deployment
The Enviro100AEV equipped with Fusion Processing’s CAVStar® system is currently being deployed in multiple UK Government-funded projects, demonstrating the technology’s readiness for commercial application:
Connector Project: Several autonomous buses will operate a trial passenger service in Cambridge, bringing SAE Level 4 automation directly to the public.
AutonoBus Project: An Enviro100AEV will demonstrate motorway operation and NUIC track testing of interaction with blue light services at SAE Level 4, supervised by a trained safety driver located in a remote control room rather than on board – a significant milestone toward true “driver-out” operation.
These projects are delivered through the CAM Pathfinder Programme, funded by UK Government. The CAM Pathfinder Programme, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, is delivered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)’s Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) team, in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.
About the CAVStar® automated drive system
Fusion Processing’s CAVStar® automated drive system is a full-stack solution comprised of proprietary AI, software, processing and control units, plus integrated sensors and communication modules. The system provides:
• Reduced operational costs through efficient route optimisation
• Improved safety by removing human error
• Up to 20% improved energy efficiency through consistent, gentle driving
CAVStar® can be applied to any modern drive-by-wire vehicle, controlling steering, braking, and powertrain systems to safely navigate a wide range of scenarios on and off highway, delivering true SAE Level 4 capability with driver-out operation.
