autonomous vehicles

As the pandemic continues, Congress remains divided on a number of issues.  The latest federal stimulus bill remains stalled, while President Donald Trump is issuing executive orders and threatening to defund the U.S. Postal Service.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss her perspective on these issues and the effort to find a way forward. 

Michigan could become a completely hands-free driving state.  A new bill in the state House comes after Governor Gretchen Whitmer made distracted driving a priority during her State of the State address.

Car enthusiasts will peruse new and future vehicles at the North American International Auto Show over the next week. But, there is more to look at than just cars, SUV’s and trucks.  As 89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan discovered, Washtenaw County is helping lead the way and is on prominent display.  

A driverless shuttle is now up and running at the University of Michigan.  Mcity launched the free service this morning.
 

Self-driving vehicles are meant to be the future of transportation, but there's much more to learn about how they could affect the environment.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks to Dr. Gregory Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability, about a new study regarding the potential impacts of Connected Autonomous Vehicles.

Have you ever played with a toy, remote-controlled car?  Would you want to do it if the vehicle was the size and weight of the vehicle you drive? And, you were riding in it?  People are doing that right now, right around the corner from you. What they learn may determine our transportation future. By now, you’ve likely heard of the American Center for Mobility. The testing site in Ypsilanti Township once housed the historic Willow Run bomber plant in the World WAR II era.  It later served as home to The General Motors Power Train plant from the 1950’s until it was closed in 2010.  89.1 WEMU’s Jorge Avellan has taken a peak behind the curtain to get a look at what may, one day, be considered history-making technology. 

The American Center for Mobility is officially open for business in Ypsilanti Township.

As Michigan moves forward in the so-called “race to mobility,” there are still some details it needs to work out.  The second annual report from Michigan’s Council on Future Mobility came out Monday. 

Michigan lawmakers are comfortable with the state’s current driverless vehicle laws.  

The North American International Auto Show is underway in Detroit, and automakers have used this to announce major developments in advancing cleaner automotive technology.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks to Anna Stefanopoulou, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Research Center Director at the University of Michigan, about what she thinks about these developments.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was in Ann Arbor today.  She stopped by the Mcity autonomous vehicle testing site to make an announcement regarding automated vehicles.

The University of Michigan will launch a driverless shuttle service this fall on campus after testing it for six months at its Mcity research facility.
 

By the end of 2017, the American Center for Mobility facility in Ypsilanti Township is expected to be up and running.  It will serve as testing facility for autonomous vehicles.  And as the North American International Auto Show is underway in Detroit, several of its participants spoke about the future of the center.

There was a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the former Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti Township which will soon be a center for driverless vehicle testing, the American Center for Mobility.

Among the elected officials on hand for the ceremony was 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.  She says the facility will be a great step forward for Michigan and the auto industry.

Research and testing of self-driving cars in Michigan are seeing a boost.  A package of bills that furthers testing of automated cars is on its way to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk.