The University of Michigan (U-M) has officially opened Mcity, the world’s first controlled environment specifically designed to test connected and automated vehicle technologies. Mcity was developed by U-M’s interdisciplinary Mobility Transformation Center (MTC) in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
The 32-acre simulated urban and suburban environment includes a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, streetlights, building facades, sidewalks and construction obstacles. Minor details a vehicle might encounter in these settings have been incorporated into Mcity, such as road signs defaced by graffiti and faded lane markings.
“We believe that this transformation to connected and automated mobility will be a game changer for safety, for efficiency, for energy, and for accessibility,” said Peter Sweatman, director of the U-M Mobility Transformation Center.
“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.”
For a video tour of the facility click here.
July 22, 2015