TechLab at Mcity is a Company-in-Residence program (company-sponsored technical projects housed at Mcity and the Ann Arbor campus) for early-stage advanced mobility companies in the connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) industry through the work of elite and technically-skilled students.
Eric Wiener
Computer Science | Class of 2022
Nicholas Lang
Computer Engineering | Class of 2022
Dr. Ali Peker - Team Mentor
CEO | Adastec
Dr. Kerem Par - Team Mentor
CTO | Adastec
Sensor Fusion Architecture
The goal of the project is to create a sensor fusion architecture to enhance perception to cope with adverse weather conditions and provide fault tolerance. Project results will be tested both on the test track and on the bus deployed in Michigan.
Xinyu Wang
Computer Engineering | Class of 2021
Meet Gandhi
Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2022
Nicola Croce - Team Mentor
Technical Program Manager | Deepen AI
Elton Lin
Computer Science | Class of 2022
Chunkai Yao
Computer Engineering | Class of 2021
Ronghua Zhang - Team Mentor
Principal Engineer | Deepmap
Marlene Wan - Team Mentor
HDMaps Services | Deepmap
Chen Chen - Team Mentor
Staff Software Engineer and Tech Lead | Deepmap
HD Mapping
Based on the interests of the students, the project could focus on data collection, data processing, localisation and change detection, and deep learning and map labelling tools to make an HD map of Mcity and the Detroit area.
Michael Gertler
Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2022
Jialu Yu
Mechanical Engineering | Class of 2022
Ivgeny Kopilevich - Team Mentor
Head of Algo | Foresight Automotive
Thermal Imaging
This project will focus on the use of thermal imaging to detect and identify traffic signals.
Suraj Harjani
Computer Science | Class of 2022
Mahalakshmi Iyer
Computer Science | Class of 2022
Lucas McKenna - Team Mentor
Senior Engineer | Point One Navigation
Precise Location Services
This semester the student team will focus on development of a map database that can be queried in real-time by AVs in the field, particularly fleet services. These maps will include 3D features and will also be updated by vehicles on the road.
William Snedegar
Computer Science | Class of 2022
Peter Linder
Computer Engineering | Class of 2022
David Han - Team Mentor
Managing Director | Seoul Robotics
Youngseong Kim - Team Mentor
Software Engineer | Seoul Robotics
Automatic Parking System Using LiDAR Software
Students will lead the development of an automated parking system utilizing Seoul Robotics core software and LiDAR at Mcity and partnering with a parking infrastructure OEM.
We encourage applicants to demonstrate an active interest in our program through attending events in addition to submitting an application.
This is your opportunity to ask TechLab staff and instructors anything and everything! During this info session, we’ll go deeper into program specifics and leave with a better understanding of how TechLab at Mcity can help you with your career goals.
TechLab at Mcity Info Session | Virtual | 10/5 | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | RSVP here to receive the Zoom link
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.
Deepen AI builds tools that use artificial intelligence to help autonomous systems to reliably understand and safely interact with the real world. Deepen enables consistent data curation, labeling and validation for autonomous vehicles, robots, drones, etc.
Project: The goal of this project will be to create a smart intersection utilizing multiple lidar sensors. The software for the LiDAR sensors will be proprietary software provided by the company.
Adastec delivers the most advanced Level 4 automation platform for full-size buses and coaches currently available.
Project: The goal of the project is to create safer and more comfortable trips for passengers, and making trips more efficient for the electric automated buses with the fusion of V2X communication and deep learning-based methods for the recognition of traffic lights.
XenomatiX is the first company to offer true solid state lidar sensors based on a multi-beam lasers concept and risk-free, scalable, semiconductor technology. XenomatiX’ sensors are known for their unique concept using mature technology components.
Project: 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.
Gatik the leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, delivers goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of light & medium duty trucks. The company focuses on short-haul, business-to-business (B2B) logistics for the retail industry.
Project: 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.
Baraja Lidar is a deep technology company that has reinvented LiDAR for self-driving vehicles. Their Spectrum-ScanTM platform uses patented technology to set new benchmarks for precision, range and reliability.
Project: 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.
P3Mobility partners with local governments to deploy smart infrastructure that increases safety, mobility, and sustainability. Their proprietary software platform facilitates the revenue generation necessary to finance smart road and connected vehicle services.
Project: The goal of this project will be to fuse the basic safety messages (BSMs) from vehicles with sensor data from smart intersections, translating this information into actionable safety data in realtime for both vehicle operators and insurance providers that assess driving risk based on vehicle and environment dynamics
Alumni Companies
Civil Maps
San Francisco, CA
Fall 2016 - Winter 2017
Tome
Detroit, MI
Fall 2017 - Fall 2018
NAVYA
Villeurbanne, France
Fall 2016 - Winter 2017
Zendrive
San Francisco, CA
Fall 2017 - Winter 2018
PolySync
Portland, OR and Ann Arbor, MI
Fall 2016 - Fall 2018
CARMERA
New York City, NY
Fall 2017 - Winter 2019
Trillium Secure, Inc.
Sunnyvale, CA
Fall 2018 - Winter 2019
RightHook, Inc.
San Jose, CA
Fall 2018 - Winter 2019
Nick Moroz
Program Director
Emilee Studley
Program Specialist
Greg McGuire
Lab Director - Mcity
TechLab is managed by U-M Center for Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Mcity.
TechLab at Mcity Welcomes Fifth Cohort
The Center for Entrepreneurship’s TechLab immersive fellowship series recently welcomed new cohorts, companies, and instructors. . TechLab at Mcity is a Company-in-Residence program (company-sponsored technical…
New Immersive Fellowship Launched
The CFE suite of offerings has expanded this year to include the exciting new program TechLab: Climate Change. TechLab: Climate Change is a Company-in-Residence program…
Students Explore Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
This fall, over 130 students interested in learning more about what entrepreneurship is, how it affects communities, and what they could expect should they choose…
If you're interested in partnering with the CFE, click the button to reach out and learn more about how.