MSU Campus to Become ‘Mobility Ecosystem'

Michigan State University plans to turn its 5,200-acre campus into a test site for advanced transportation technologies.

1 minute read

November 16, 2018, 6:00 AM PST

By Elana Eden


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Jason Grindle / Shutterstock

Michigan State University is launching a campus-wide mobility research initiative that will apply artificial intelligence, behavioral science, and cloud storage to advance autonomous technology.

Already, the university has installed charging stations for electric vehicles and a testing site for autonomous vehicles on campus. Off campus, MSU has embedded smart sensors on the Mackinac Bridge as part of a project developing the hardware that will allow autonomous vehicles to communicate with infrastructure and other cars. Faculty and student researchers are also using artificial intelligence to predict human and vehicular behavior in hopes of improving guidance systems for autonomous vehicles. 

On top of studying technological advancements, the university is taking a holistic approach to new mobility—tackling potential legal challenges, forecasting consumer behavior, and developing navigation apps that integrate ride-hailing, public transit, and a suite of other options.

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