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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today announced the University of Michigan will receive $5,118,625 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation to improve safety, mobility, and sustainability of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) by enhancing physical testing, adding virtual-reality software, and generating real-world datasets that can be shared across the research community at the university’s Mcity Testing Facility.

“We are on the cusp of a major transformation in the auto industry and the future of mobility that can save thousands of lives every year with the development of connected and autonomous vehicles, and the University of Michigan is leading the way in research and development to ensure this new technology is deployed safely,” said Dingell. "With this funding from NSF, the University of Michigan will accelerate Mcity’s transformation into a cutting-edge hub for AV testing resources while creating a more equitable environment in developing the future of mobility.”

“The new digital infrastructure combining real-world data sets with high-quality simulation capabilities and a physical test track will set Mcity apart from other AV test facilities, and enable remote use,” said Henry Liu, director of both Mcity and the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation, a regional transportation research center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “The proliferation of AVs and connected vehicles will create a safer travel environment and by making this next generation version of Mcity available to a wider range of researchers, we believe we can help accelerate adoption.”

For more information on the NSF grant, click here.

The National Science Foundation supports research, innovation, and discovery at America’s colleges and universities by distributing federal grants. On average, NSF awards approximately 11,000 new grants each year to individuals or small research teams after a rigorous review process.