The Challenge and Opportunity
Connected and autonomous vehicles offer the promise of Vision Zero (zero fatalities, zero injuries and zero crashes) but are not yet safe, reliable, scalable and affordable enough for widespread use across geographical regions, and different operating conditions like poor weather. Innovations in cyber- and physical infrastructure are also necessary to enable connected autonomy. With increasing international competitive threats in these emerging transportation technologies, Safety21 is helping to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader by advancing the state of the art and equipping industry, policymakers, and workers with the necessary tools and knowledge to remain innovative and competitive.
Economic Growth
Safety21 and previous CMU UTC research have led to multiple commercial spinoffs, creating high-tech jobs across the country. Companies like Ottomatika (now part of Aptiv/Motional), Rapid Flow Technologies (acquired by Miovision), Roadbotics (acquired by Michelin) and Traffiqure originated from Safety21-funded projects. More are in the pipeline.
Historical Context
CMU has been a leader in transportation innovation for over a decade:
