Researchers at the University of Michigan are setting up a fake city to get a clearer picture of whether automated vehicles will survive in the real world.
As interesting as Google's self-driving cars may sound, the idea has raised several safety concerns. Automobile experts have expressed their concern on how these automated vehicles will deal with unexpected conditions like traffic signals, poor road conditions and pedestrians who carelessly cross the roads. To find answers to these questions, University of Michigan researchers have revealed plans of building a fake city to test driverless cars. The facility will be operated by U-M's Mobility Transformation Center in Southeast Michigan.
"The College of Engineering brings expertise in robotics and how to test sophisticated machines," Peter Sweatman, director of both the mobility transformation center and the U-M Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), said in a press statement, Monday.
Researchers revealed that the project will include 32 acres of simulated city center and a four-lane highway. It will also have merge lanes, stoplights, roundabouts, intersections, road signs, a railroad crossing, construction areas, building facades and later a mechanical pedestrian to watch out for.
"The type of testing we're talking about doing - it's not possible to do today in the university infrastructure," said Ryan Eustice, an associate professor of naval architecture and marine engineering, according to TechCrunch. "Every time a vehicle comes around the loop, it can hit something unusual. That will give us a leg up on getting these vehicles mature and robust and safe."
The facility will first be used to run tests on an automated Ford Fusion hybrid. Researchers from the University are already working with the automobile company to develop sensors and mapping technology for the vehicle. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility was held late last month.
Last week, Google revealed the prototype for its self-driving cars. The company also said that it will start building its own self-driving cars rather than modifying vehicles made by other manufacturers.
The prototypes have a max speed of 25mph, about two feet of foam in the front to pad against collisions and a plastic windshield instead of shatter-able glass. Though it doesn't have a steering wheel, accelerator or brakes, it has more sensors in strategic spots than what a regular vehicle possesses, which cover all blind spots.
