Lawrence Technological University receives research grant to improve autonomous vehicle capabilities

Lawrence Technological University has received a grant from the DENSO North America Foundation in the amount of $192,791 to perform research that will improve the future functionality of autonomous vehicles. Students from various majors at Lawrence Technological University, including architectural engineering, audio engineering technology, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering will work alongside professors to collect and analyze acoustic road data and figure out how to apply it to improve autonomous vehicles’ abilities to detect hazards.

According to an article on Lawrence Technological University’s website, Mostafa Rahbar, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the school’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and is serving as the principal investigator on the grant project. Explaining the project, Rahbar is quoted as saying, “The grant aims to create a safer future for self-driving cars. It will support the development of a system that helps these cars better understand their surroundings and make smarter decisions to avoid accidents. The project will bring together students from different engineering fields, giving them hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the advancement of autonomous vehicle safety and potentially save lives on the road.”

Working alongside Rahbar are co-investigators Nabih Jaber, Ph.D., the chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department and the director of the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and George Pappas, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the director of the school’s Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program. Rahbar, Jaber, and Pappas will be working with students from the aforementioned academic programs to find more ways to use acoustic data to add to autonomous vehicles’ “knowledge” of potential hazards on the road. The grant funding will allow the researchers to purchase sensors, cameras, and data processing equipment to use in the testing. Later phases of the project will include developing algorithms based upon their findings and real-world testing.

Jaber said of the implications of the project, “This project not only enhances safety but also paves the way for future research and potential commercialization, marking an advancement in autonomous vehicle technology. By integrating roadside acoustic data with existing sensor systems, our students will play a key role in improving data synchronization, predictive algorithms, and real-time systems. It is a great opportunity for our students, and we are eager to start working on this with them.”

Marty Deschenes, who is the president of the DENSO North America Foundation, which provided Lawrence Technological Institute with the grant funding, is quoted as saying, “DENSO is committed to enabling early-career talent to grow their knowledge and pursue successful careers in STEM areas. Through these grants, our aim is to inspire the next generation of engineers and skilled trades experts.”

For more information about Lawrence Technological University, visit the school’s website.