SOUTHFIELD, Mich. ― DENSO International America Inc. joined other partners in hosting technology displays and demonstrations at the Mcity grand opening July 20 on the campus of the University of Michigan (UM) in Ann Arbor. Mcity is a controlled test environment for connected and automated vehicles operated by UM’s Mobility Transformation Center (MTC). The 32-acre cityscape is a simulated urban and suburban environment in Ann Arbor which allows researchers to safely test new technologies without disrupting public roadways. 

Mcity features a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs, signals, streetlights, building facades, sidewalks and construction obstacles which can be outfitted with sensors and other equipment to test connected and automated technologies that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the infrastructure. This information is then available to help improve the new technologies in automated driving. 

DENSO is a Leadership Circle member of MTC, giving it access to all of the information collected, as well as patents created, from the pooled research through MTC. DENSO will also be conducting its own private research projects to collect additional data. 

“Mcity is a great opportunity to combine engineering, urban planning and energy and information technologies to accelerate progress and help drive the industry forward with automated vehicles,” said Doug Patton, executive vice president of engineering at DENSO. “DENSO will have the ability to collect data on our dedicated short-range communication modules, data communication modules, driver status monitoring and more to make the necessary changes before putting these technologies on the road.”