Want to be a part of a think tank that looks at the future of autonomous mobility?

The self driving car is more of a reality than a dream.  Companies such as Volvo, Waymo, Uber, and Apple are testing cars in several states across the United States.  The use of technology for mobility will transform our lives in the future, which leads to several questions:

• How will riders/drivers react and will they adopt autonomous vehicles?
• What will the infrastructure needs be in the future?
• What are 'last mile' issues and concerns?  How will a car drop off passengers or park?
• What type of sensors will become dominant in future vehicles?
• Will individuals lease or buy cars?  If they lease, will it be a subscription model?

All of these questions and more are intriguing questions that can be researched.  Through interdisciplinary collaboration at MTSU, groups of faculty and students can dive deeply into one topic.

iPassenger: One project has already been funded for a Tesla Model X to be purchased and used to research the passenger experience

 

Faculty and students across all of MTSU’s 41 departments and nine doctoral programs have much to contribute to the wide-ranging opportunities for mobility with autonomous vehicles and drones.  No idea is too small or too far reaching.

We will begin with a “think tank” approach whereby autonomous systems participants will engage in multiple brainstorming sessions over the next academic year to: pose research questions and strategies; develop research projects and programs; and plan the eventual research opportunities (including websites, symposia, conferences, peer-reviewed journal articles and books, etc.).