
Perot Jain TechLab provides students with unique opportunities to experience entrepreneurship by working with startup companies that are building the future.

Neha Tiwari
Engineering | Class of 2024

Anna Nickel
Electrical and Computer Engineering | Class of 2024

Daniel Jiang
Computer Engineering | Class of 2024
Matthew Landry - Team Mentor
Field Application Engineer - Baraja
LiDAR Range Tests
This project is to validate the Baraja LiDAR range tests at real-life distances. The end goal would be to have in-field results that are verified against Baraja Manufacturing test data.

Mahzad Khoshlessan
Computer Vision Research Science | Class of 2024

Nihal Kurki
Computer Science | Class of 2023

Yifan Wang
Electrical and Computer Engineering | Class of 2024

Sihang Wei
Mechanical Engineering and Computer Vision | Class of 2023
Oğuz Çakmak - Team Mentor
Senior Computer Engineer | Büyütech
Ömer Orkun Düztaş - Team Mentor
Co-Founder and CEO | Büyütech
Finding Solutions with PODAR
The goal of this project is to develop a precise and cost-effective ultimate perception solution that can detect all kinds of objects in all weather conditions and determine their position in 3D by using different spectra sensors in stereo creating PODAR (Passive Only Detection and Ranging).

Ben Rossano
Robotics | Class of 2024

Aditya Vasudevan
Computer Science | Class of 2024
Dharmateja Kadem - Team Mentor
Technical Program Manager - Gatik
Brian McLean - Team Mentor
VP of Hardware - Gatik
Apeksha Kumavat - Team Mentor
Co-Founder and Chief Engineer - Gatik
Arjun Narang - Team Mentor
Co-Founder and CTO - Gatik
3D Object Detection
The project aims to make significant advances in long-range 3D object detection and tracking for autonomous vehicles, i.e. beyond 120 meters and out to 200+ m in front of the vehicle.

Alexander Morton
Computer Science | Class of 2024

Mihika Thakurta
Computer Science | Class of 2025
Martin Nathenson - Team Mentor
Sr. Software Engineer | P3Mobility
Jeremy Ward - Team Mentor
Director of Operations | P3Mobility
Erin Milligan- Team Mentor
Founder and CEO | P3Mobility
Moslem Kazemi- Team Mentor
Consulting in Autonomy, Advanced Robotics, and AI Systems
BSMs
The project aims to make significant advances in long-range 3D object detection and tracking for autonomous vehicles, i.e. beyond 120 meters and out to 200+ m in front of the vehicle.

Asma Almutairi
Systems Engineering and Design | Class of 2023

Arjav Patel
Computer Science | Class of 2024

Yash Patil
Automotive Engineering | Class of 2023

Broderick Riopelle
Computer Engineering | Class of 2024
Michael Diaz - Team Mentor
Co-Founder and Head of Software - Retrospect
Michael Woon - Team Mentor
CEO and Founder - Retrospect
Data Collection
The goal for this project is for the student team to contribute to the emerging field of autonomy safety measurement and validation by collecting data at Mcity and validating Retrospect software analysis for candidate path plans.

Jiahang Li
Electrical and Computer Engineering | Class of 2023

Shrey Sahgal
Engineering | Class of 2024
Jacopo Alaimo - Team Mentor
Sales and Business Development Management | XenomatiX
Rodrigo Royo - Team Mentor
Application Engineer | XenomatiX
Solid State LiDAR Software
The goal of this project will be to integrate a LiDAR system in an existing serial production vehicle demonstrating modularity and integrability of the latest generation of LiDAR and testing and validating the results running object detection and classification algorithms.
FOR STUDENTS
ENTR 390. 013 | Tues. 4-6PM, 1690 Beyster
TechLab students experience entrepreneurship while working in the emerging industry of connected and autonomous vehicle industry (CAV). We are looking for the most driven, passionate and talented students to join this program.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tackle industry challenges through CAV technical projects as part of the 1-year fellowship program (Winter-Fall; 3 credits/semester)
- Gain experience developing new technologies at an early-stage startup
- Receive mentorship from industry experts, fellow students, and U-M faculty across multiple disciplines
- Attend lectures from faculty and industry partners on topics such as business models and project management
- Obtain leadership and collaboration skills while completing a sponsored company project with other driven and passionate classmates
FOR COMPANIES
COHORT INFORMATION
Partnering companies lead entrepreneurial innovation while leveraging elite and technically-skilled U-M student teams who work to tackle company-sponsored technical projects. This Company-in-Residence program is for early-stage advanced mobility companies in the connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) industry.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Work on your proposed year-long project with a small team of top-tiered talented student interns
- Receive access to the Mcity Test Facility–the nation’s leading mobility research and urban test facility on U-M’s North Campus
- Gain connections with U-M faculty and industry experts
- Leverage the close proximity to Detroit, the birthplace of mobility
STUDENT FAQs
We have several suggested, but not required, skills and courses to successfully complete company sponsored projects. They are: Robotics, Mechatronics (Design, CAD, and machine shop skills), ability to code in C, Python, or C++, machine vision, machine learning, AI focus, mobile software development. The suggested courses are: ME 250, ME 350, and ME 450, EECS 442, 453, 445, 461, 463, other 400+, and courses in computer vision, robotics, and sensor fusion.
TechLab is open to all undergraduate students.
Due to the highly competitive nature of the program, if you are not accepted, we recommend reapplying the following year. Depending on the technical experience that a student has, an incoming freshman could be selected to participate.
Yes, TechLab at Mcity is open to undergraduate to graduate students. Depending on the technical experience that a student has, first-year students to graduate students could be selected.
In order to participate, you must be able to commit to two semesters – Winter & Fall.
Students are required to attend a lecture class every week. Class serves two purposes (1) Receive lectures from faculty on topics like business model and project management (2) Present weekly updates and ask for guidance relating to project roadblocks
To fit with U-M guidelines of 2-3 hours of work per credit hour, this course will require 8-10 hours outside of class.
Only selected students will be contacted via email.
Student teams have an hour-long weekly Skype or Google Hangout call with the company they are matched with. At different points during the year company leads may travel to Ann Arbor to work with students.
3 general elective credits per semester. You must be eligible to receive all 3 credits.
*Note: EECS students can use this course as a flexible technical credit. We are working to get this approved among other CoE departments.
COMPANY FAQs
We are looking for early-stage technology companies in the autonomous and connected vehicle industry. The typical TechLab company is one that has already raised > $5M dollars and has more than 15 employees. This guarantees that we are working with globally leading companies that are well on their way and have the management capability to oversee and contribute to projects in a substantial way.
All companies are required to submit a proposal. If you are interested in being considered for this incubator program, please email techlab-mcity@umich.edu.
Existing intellectual property of technology startups, and any IP developed using the U-M facilities, will be strictly protected and remain with your company. All students are required to sign a NDA.
Alumni Companies
TechLab is managed by U-M Center for Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Mcity.
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