Gekot
This team will design and prototype a low-cost situational awareness system for rental electric scooters using mmWave radar and inertial sensors. The system will detect hazards, classify road surfaces, and deliver real-time alerts to improve safety, reduce accidents, and support responsible urban scooter use.
Mapless
The Mapless Team is developing a fiducial-based vehicle platooning system. Using AR-style markers and onboard sensors, the vehicles compute real-time relative positioning to maintain a set formation. The team is integrating Mapless’s active safety technology to demonstrate safe, coordinated platooning in action.
nift
The NiFT team is advancing an autonomous shuttle platform at Mcity by transforming the NiFT Shuttle QB into a Level 4 autonomous vehicle. The team is leading the full system integration of drive-by-wire controls, sensors, communications, and software to enable safe, seamless operation. Their work also includes vehicle assembly, configuration, and rigorous real-world testing to validate performance in complex and edge-case scenarios.
Snowbotix
The Snowbotix project is developing a proof-of-concept system for fully autonomous outdoor docking and wireless charging. Over two semesters, the team will design and validate localization and control strategies that enable robots to self-dock and recharge without human intervention, progressing from single-robot tests to fleet-level coordination and outdoor deployment. This capability supports scalable, hands-free, continuous robotic operations on campus and beyond.
TrubAi
Students will partner with TrubAI and Detroit DOT to assess the feasibility of remotely adjusting traffic signals at a high-risk Detroit intersection using Mcity’s infrastructure. They will analyze crash and environmental data, test simulated interventions, and deliver a proof-of-concept demonstration, policy memo, and data-driven recommendations.
VTI Aero
With VTI Aero, students will design and build a drone sensor payload that enables autonomous, GPS-independent navigation and real-time perception. Using embedded systems, machine learning, and simulation tools, they will test and validate capabilities such as obstacle detection, vision-based navigation, and in-flight autonomous demonstrations at Mcity.
