Two Michigan Mobility Challenge Participants To Provide Autonomous Airport Shuttles During NAIAS

Two Michigan Mobility Challenge Participants To Provide Autonomous Airport Shuttles During NAIAS

 Dataspeed and FEV are the two providers chosen by the NAIAS 2020 Michigan Mobility Challenge to provide autonomous airport shuttles during the auto show in June.

Dataspeed and FEV were the final two providers announced by Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II last month. They will be among seven providers to provide first-of-its-kind technology demonstrations on routes from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to downtown Detroit during the 2020 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Here is more information about the two providers:

Dataspeed – Dataspeed will provide an accessible, automated shuttle service that will navigate Detroit’s busy city streets as well as highway-speed traffic in a partnership with AM General, Comet Mobility, Easterseals and Michigan State University.

The automated shuttles, which Dataspeed will engineer on the AM General MV-1 platform, will be designed with the latest safety-focused technology. The MV-1 is the only commercial vehicle platform that was designed and built specifically for wheelchair accessibility from the ground up. Each shuttle will be equipped with industry-leading vehicle software and sensors to appropriately detect, predict, and react during the pre-planned route. Built specifically for 2020 NAIAS, passengers will also have a unique in-vehicle user experience provided by Comet Mobility.

Over the past year, Dataspeed has provided autonomous rides to over 2,000 individuals at both industry and public automotive events.

FEV – FEV will offer an autonomous experience using four hybrid electric Kia Niros and the latest autonomous control technology, including the capability to control the vehicles from a remote location in a partnership with Polysync, DriveU and Western Michigan University. FEV’s shuttle will integrate technology by Polysync to modify standard vehicles to have automated vehicle capabilities.

FEV Group works with automakers to design, develop and test powertrain technologies that reduce emissions, boost performance and improve fuel economy.

The shuttle routes – Dataspeed and FEV will be providing shuttles along two distinct routes from Detroit Metro Airport directly to downtown Detroit. Shuttles will run along a primary route from Detroit Metro Airport along I-94 to M-1, dropping riders in downtown Detroit on Warren Ave., where they can access hotels and other NAIAS activities. A secondary route would run from I-94 to US-12, providing riders a direct service to TCF Center for the 2020 NAIAS activities. The shuttles will run Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11 during press and industry preview days.

Governor Whitmer announced the NAIAS 2020 Michigan Mobility Challenge, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation and PlanetM, the mobility initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in May 2019, calling on industry innovators to propose dynamic technology deployments that embody how automated and connected vehicle technology can transform how we live, work and play. It builds on the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge launched to address core mobility gaps for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and veterans across the state.

Dataspeed and FEV’s involvement builds on the October announcement of five highly-automated vehicle providers for downtown Detroit circulator routes, which will offer unique in-vehicle experiences throughout downtown Detroit during NAIAS in June 2020, as well as the Mobility Challenge MaaS platform provider.