Center to Develop and Test “Connected Vehicle” Technology

August 10th, 2007

This is obviously a big story here in my hometown of Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor News in a fit of hyperbole went so far as to say, “City could become epicenter of automotive communications.”—Dan

The Center for Automotive Research and the Connected Vehicle Trade Association will open a research center in Ann Arbor, MI next month to test new technology that will allow cars and trucks to interact with each other and make highways safer. The Connected Vehicle Proving Center (CVPC) will open in October with help from a $3.1 million grant from Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund. The 21st Century Jobs Fund is a $2 billion, ten-year initiative administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to accelerate the diversification of Michigan’s economy.

Initially, the CVPC will be made available to public and private entities as a reference environment for product evaluation and qualification within this realm. Over time, the center will evolve into a certification / validation laboratory. The CVPC is expected to evolve into a valuable resource for a wide-range of organizations with interests in vehicle communications, vehicle telematics and intelligent transportation systems.

CVTA President Scott McCormick said, “The CVPC will also provide support services, including engineering expertise, evaluation research, prototype testing, training, and an intellectual property holding tank.”

Entry Filed under: Network Test, Test Labs