Adelaide Airport will trial three electric driverless shuttles to take passengers between its long-term carpark and the terminal after receiving a $1 million State Government grant.

A partnership between Flinders University and the RAA will transport students around the campus, while the trial of an autonomous cargo delivery pod at Tonsley hopes to develop a market-ready vehicle inside 12 months.

Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young said the passenger shuttles would be a flagship project with the potential to “substantially improve customer service”.

He said the vehicles’ size and agility would allow them to operate more frequently, with an ability to run 24 hours a day.

New bus shelters with LED lighting, CCTV and wi-fi will also be installed at the airport during the trial.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the innovative projects were among seven to receive a total of $5.6 million in Future Mobility Lab grants.

Mr Mullighan said there had been “overwhelming interest” in developing driverless technology in South Australia, with the Government receiving 42 grant applications for a total of $26 million, more than double the value of the $10 million fund.

“Soon driverless technology will be taking to the roads in the Tonsley Innovation Precinct with RDM’s exciting cargo pod trial and Flinders University’s ambitious driverless shuttles,” he said.

RAA senior manager Mark Borlace said the Flinders University project, which will include a mobile app that allows students to preorder rides, would allow members of the public to see the innovative technology up close.

“Trialling a self driving vehicle in real world conditions will allow us to test and see how to integrate this new technology as a first and last mile solution to Adelaide’s public transport systems,” he said.