Shaping Safer Roads with Automated Vehicle Research
For six decades, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has been at the forefront of road safety research, playing a pivotal role in reducing traffic fatalities. Now, as the institute marks its 60th anniversary, it is embracing the future by integrating its expertise with the cutting-edge capabilities of Mcity, the university’s renowned autonomous vehicle (AV) testing facility.
UMTRI will officially expand to include Mcity, bringing together two powerful forces in mobility innovation. Leading the charge is Henry Liu, Mcity’s director since 2022 and a distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering. His vision is to merge safety research and AV development in a way that not only advances technology but also fundamentally transforms how it impacts human lives.
“This integration is a multiplier of our impact,” Liu stated. “UMTRI’s safety researchers focus on human factors, while Mcity provides a one-of-a-kind test facility. Together, they elevate Michigan Engineering’s status as a leader in mobility solutions.”
A Legacy of Life-Saving Research
UMTRI’s journey began in 1965 when the United States faced an alarming surge in road fatalities. As vehicles became faster and highways expanded, the need for safety research became urgent. Recognizing the problem, the federal government and major automakers, including Ford and General Motors, provided $10 million to establish what was then the Highway Safety Research Institute.
Since its inception, UMTRI has driven significant advancements in vehicle safety, leading to a 35% reduction in per capita traffic deaths, according to 2023 NRC data. Among its many achievements:
- Crash Test Innovation: Pioneering studies in the 1970s led to more realistic crash test dummies, improving vehicle safety for passengers of all ages.
- Seatbelt and Airbag Standards: Research in the 1980s shaped policies on occupant restraint systems, directly influencing the design of modern seatbelt and child safety seat laws.
- International Road Standards: UMTRI helped develop the International Roughness Index, a global standard for road surface quality assessment.
- Heavy Truck Safety: Mathematical modelling from UMTRI researchers laid the foundation for today’s heavy truck safety regulations.
By the 1990s, the institute’s expertise in 3D modelling and vehicle dynamics paved the way for the rise of autonomous vehicle simulations. A notable spin-off, Mechanical Simulation Corp., revolutionized real-world vehicle behaviour prediction before its acquisition by Applied Intuition in 2022—a company now valued at $6 billion.
Revolutionizing Connected and Automated Vehicle Testing
UMTRI’s vast experience in traffic safety naturally positioned it as a key player in autonomous and connected vehicle research. In 2012, the institute led the Safety Pilot Model Deployment, a $30 million initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation. With 2,800 drivers covering 71 million miles, the project demonstrated that connected vehicle technology could prevent 80% of unimpaired crashes.
Building on that success, UMTRI expanded its research, culminating in today’s Ann Arbor Connected Environment 2.0, covering 27 square miles with 75 infrastructure-equipped locations. The project incorporates cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology, paving the way for safer and smarter roads.
The Mcity Test Facility – A Safe Haven for AV Development
Understanding the risks of testing autonomous vehicles in real-world environments, UMTRI leadership conceived Mcity—the world’s first dedicated AV test track, launched in 2015. The 32-acre facility replicates urban and suburban settings, featuring roads, intersections, traffic signals, and even construction obstacles.
Ford was the first automaker to test its autonomous vehicles at Mcity. At the time, Raj Nair, then Ford’s Vice President of Global Product Development, emphasised its importance: “Testing at Mcity provides a challenging yet safe urban environment to refine these technologies. This is a crucial step toward making millions of lives safer.”
Mcity’s testing capabilities have since expanded significantly. Today, the facility combines physical and digital testing, allowing for the simulation of complex driving scenarios and pedestrian interactions. Remote access testing, enabled by digital infrastructure funded by the National Science Foundation, means researchers from around the world can now conduct AV trials without setting foot on-site.
In a landmark move, Mcity also introduced the first open-source digital twin of its facility, offering a cost-effective way to test autonomous vehicle software without requiring physical prototypes. This innovation has the potential to dramatically accelerate AV development worldwide.
A Blueprint for Safer Roads
One of Mcity’s most ambitious projects is the Mcity Safety Assessment Program, designed to standardise Level 4 AV safety validation. Unlike lower-level automated systems, L4 vehicles can navigate most driving scenarios independently, requiring rigorous testing before widespread deployment.
Additionally, Mcity’s Driverless Shuttle program, the first AV shuttle research project focused on user behaviour, has provided valuable insights into consumer acceptance of automated mobility solutions. Its success has influenced real-world AV deployments, including collaborations with May Mobility for urban transport trials in Ann Arbor and Detroit.
Road Safety at a Tipping Point
Despite significant progress in vehicle safety, the reality remains stark—over 40,000 people still die on U.S. roads annually. The U.S. Department of Transportation has labelled the situation a crisis, implementing the National Roadway Safety Strategy to address it.
Liu believes automation holds the key to further reducing fatalities. “Given all the safety features already integrated into vehicles, the next major breakthrough must come from automation,” he explains. But it’s not just about making AVs safer—it’s about rethinking vehicle safety from the ground up.
“We need to consider how to protect AV occupants,” Liu adds. “Maybe passengers shouldn’t always face forward. Perhaps seatbelts and airbags should be designed differently. Transportation safety requires a holistic approach, and this new structure will emphasise that.”
A Future Driven by Innovation
With the integration of UMTRI and Mcity, the University of Michigan is setting the stage for a new era in road safety. By combining six decades of ground-breaking research with state-of-the-art AV testing, the institution is poised to shape the future of transportation like never before.
As connected and automated vehicle technologies continue to evolve, one thing is certain: the road ahead is looking safer, smarter, and more efficient than ever.
