UK Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) Alliance Programme to enhance its knowledge on artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics in the transport sector.

TRL will be joining the CSAIL Alliance Programme, along with other organisations such as BAE Systems, Intel, BT, Google and Apple.

The CSAIL programme provides intelligence on advanced technology, and by joining CSAIL, TRL will be able to access the largest research laboratory facility at MIT.

"MIT’s CSAIL facility is world renowned for its research in the development and application of new technologies and joining the Alliance Programme will help to ensure that TRL remains at the forefront of innovation in transport."

TRL will also gain access to research groups that include, spanning robotics, natural language processing, databases, networks, web science and cryptography.

TRL academy director Nick Reed said: “Technology is advancing rapidly and is already driving dramatic changes within the transport industry.

“TRL’s role has always been to predict, understand and evaluate how such developments can deliver improvements in the safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our transport systems.

“MIT’s CSAIL facility is world renowned for its research in the development and application of new technologies and joining the Alliance Programme will help to ensure that TRL remains at the forefront of innovation in transport.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with CSAIL and partners in our ongoing programme of research surrounding automated transport systems and self-driving cars.”

TRL staff members will also get an opportunity to work with some of the leading researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, as well as identifying opportunities to collaborate to improve knowledge and accelerate development in this area.