Michigan, the birthplace of the automative industry, is poised to make history again — for developing a way to bring driverless cars safely to American roads.
U-M’s Mobility Transportation Center opened an outdoor test facility meant to test connected and automated cars to meet the goal of bringing these vehicles to Ann Arbor roads by 2021. Automakers can use the 32-acre playground to refine the advanced technologies with no danger to the public.
The faux city is more than a test track, it’s a “test environment for vehicles of the future,” said MTC director Peter Sweatman. The introduction of these cars “will be a game changer for safety, for efficiency, for energy, and for accessibility.”
“Our cities will be much better to live in, our suburbs will be much better to live in. These technologies truly open the door to 21st century mobility.”
Different levels of automation will be tested — from connected cars, talking to each other, to fully automated vehicles. Auto makers and manufacturers do not have this level of capability said MTC deployment director Jim Sayer.
“There are many challenges ahead as automated vehicles are increasingly deployed on real roadways,” Sweatman said in a video statement. “Mcity is a safe, controlled, and realistic environment where we are going to figure out how the incredible potential of connected and automated vehicles can be realized quickly, efficiently and safely.”
A simulated environment is limited to situations that experts can invent in their own minds, Wired noted. Many unexpected events — such as sinkholes or deer — are hazards real drivers face. Google has been logging millions of miles on real roads and trying to deal with human error, such as getting rear-ended by distracted drivers.
The project is backed by Michigan’s department of transportation and has attracted partners like Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan and Delphi. Other automotive companies may join the collaborative at a price tag of $1 million.
