Autoblog Minute: Grand opening of autonomous driving campus Mcity

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Can Michigan reclaim its throne as the epicenter of automotive innovation? Ann Arbor's Mcity promises to be the driverless mecca of the future. Stay tuned for project details and exclusive video of the new tech venture. I'm Adam Morath and this is your Autoblog Minute. Autonomous driving technology isn't new; Google, Tesla, Uber, and Ford are just a few of the companies testing automated technologies. But it is an area of research that promises to dramatically change our lives for the better. Imagine fewer accidents, decreased traffic and pollution, and, of course, less time feeling trapped behind the wheel. Self-driving cars could be particularly helpful to those with limited mobility. But first, autonomous systems must be exhaustively tested for safety and reliability. Enter: Mcity, a large-scale venture that aims to make meaningful strides in getting automated cars on the road, making these science fiction dreams into realities.

Autoblog's Pete Bigelow was on the scene for the grand opening of Mcity.

[PETE BIGELOW INTERVIEW]

A one-of-a-kind test site for automated vehicles, Mcity is located on 32-acres within University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex. It was designed to test new technologies in a realistic off-roadway environment - an essential step before cars can be safely deployed on actual roads. Mcity's simulated urban and suburban environment features a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, streetlights, building facades, sidewalks, and construction obstacles to create the broad range of complexities that vehicles encounter on a daily basis. According to the project's website, the goal of Mcity is "the implementation of a working system of connected and automated vehicles in Ann Arbor by 2021." In the meantime, we will eagerly watch for any progress, as the future of mobility and automotive innovation in Michigan seems bright. For Autoblog, I'm Adam Morath.