Upwardly Mobile

The University of Michigan is driving the vanguard of mobility research, poised to revolutionize how people and goods move.

Under the visionary Campus Plan 2050, U-M is ensuring a sustainable and equitable future that will have impacts not only on the local economy and community, but also in setting a global benchmark.

“Campus Plan 2050 is a forward-focused blueprint aligned with U-M’s Vision 2034,” said Bogdan Epureanu, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Mechanical Engineering, and Director of the Automotive Research Center. “We’re turning our Ann Arbor campuses into a living lab that facilitates real-time data collection and state-of-the-art testing for new technologies. This plan includes support for transformative education and connectivity, and sustainability initiatives that foster collaboration and innovation, supporting sustainable solutions in education and human interactions.”

Mobility at Michigan: A Blueprint for the Future

U-M’s leadership in mobility research covers a broad spectrum from autonomous vehicles to advanced electric transportation systems, focusing on four main areas:

• Equitable: Lack of reliable transportation can limit access to jobs, healthcare, education, food and other essentials, contributing to income disparities. U-M is developing solutions to make transportation affordable, available, and accessible to everyone, including elderly individuals and those with disabilities.
• Secure: Mobility technologies and systems underpin economic prosperity at home and support defense capabilities abroad. Amid today’s geopolitical instability, it’s essential to maintain U-M’s national leadership. U-M is advancing technologies in autonomy, human-autonomy teaming, modeling and simulation, and domestic supply chains.
• Safe: The current rates of injuries and fatalities on U.S. roads remain high despite technological advancements in vehicle design. U-M aims to reduce these rates by advancing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, enhancing connectivity, and prioritizing designs that consider the safety of all road users.
• Sustainable: Transportation contributes 27 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. U-M’s approach includes EVs, low-carbon fuels, recyclability, and connectivity, and is exploring social aspects of technology adoption and transportation systems.

“Mobility impacts our economy and national security,” Epureanu said. “It’s imperative that our mobility systems are equitable, secure, safe and sustainable. To achieve this, we need closer partnerships with state and federal agencies and industries. These partnerships are crucial because the pace of technological advancements is fast across key areas such as electrification and autonomous driving.”

Infrastructure Development: Nurturing Innovation

In response to rapid industry innovation, substantial infrastructural developments are planned for North Campus, including new facilities for autonomous and electric vehicles.

“Our infrastructure will serve both as a testbed for innovative research and to improve campus activities,” Epureanu said.

Key Milestones in Autonomous Vehicles

Over the next decade, U-M aims to advance autonomous vehicle research, with a strong focus on safety and deployment in complex, unpredictable (i.e., unstructured) environments.

“We’re committed to scaling autonomous vehicles safely and achieving widespread deployment,” Epureanu said. “Our work is leading the way in applying autonomous vehicle technology to critical areas such as disaster relief, forestry, planetary exploration, and mining.”

U-M plans to leverage digital engineering to fully integrate research and development, fostering an engineering ecosystem that supports large-scale pilot programs.

Pioneering Electric Vehicle Research

Aligned with U-M’s carbon neutrality goals, Campus Plan 2050 will bolster research and innovation in electric vehicle (EV) technology.

“U-M is well-positioned to address a range of challenges in EV technology,” said Epureanu. “Through training the next generation of engineers and collaborating with state and federal agencies, U-M is leading the charge in advancing EV and mobility systems. The EV center, led by Prof. Alan Taub, is a prime example of the bright future of electrification.”

Human-Machine Integrated Formations: The Next Frontier

The concept of human-machine integrated formations, especially in military settings, seeks to keep humans safe (i.e., out of harm’s way) by having autonomous systems function as teammates.

“We need vehicles or mobile robots and humans to trust each other,” said Epureanu. “This approach involves predicting human intent and integrating robotics into complex human activities, which will be essential for the future of mobility.”

Insights from Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists

U-M is uniting mobility expertise across campus and beyond to lead the way in building a future that is safe, equitable, sustainable and secure. Recent visits from Nobel Laureates and a Fields Medalist, and other members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) have sparked key discussions, highlighting the importance of integrating multidisciplinary research into mobility studies. These high-profile visits have reinforced U-M’s commitment to this vision.

“We recognize the critical role of human-autonomy interactions” said Epureanu. “The cognitive workload and emotional states of humans are essential factors in creating robots with enhanced empathy. To achieve this, we need technologies that can measure brain activity, allowing machines to interact more intelligently with humans.”

Long-term Impact on Research and Student Experience

Campus Plan 2050’s long-term impacts entail turning the campus into a living lab, providing students with hands-on opportunities to address societal needs.

“The more clearly students see the impact of their work, the more enthusiastic they become,” Epureanu said. “These living labs will not only benefit research capabilities, but will also prepare students to make a global impact.”

A Bright Future

U-M’s Campus Plan 2050 is more than just a strategic document — it is a visionary roadmap that holds the promise of transforming mobility research and setting new global standards for innovation, sustainability, and equity.

What excites Epureanu most about the future of mobility research at U-M is the multidisciplinary approach to solving mobility challenges.

“The most exciting aspect of Campus Plan 2050 is its potential to transform mobility research through a multidisciplinary approach, enabling U-M to address and solve the mobility challenges of the future,” he said. “As U-M continues to adapt to global challenges, the university is set to play a pivotal role in redefining mobility through a balanced, multidisciplinary, and convergent approach.”