On August 8, 2024, LSU Electrical Engineering Assistant Professor Xiangyu Meng announced the acquisition of a new Self-Driving Car Studio (SDCS) that will be utilized by faculty and students at Louisiana State University. This new SDCS is set to foster collaborative research efforts among various groups on campus working on intelligent transportation, including those in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and construction management.
The project was made possible through a $107,000 grant from the Board of Regents, highlighting the importance and support for innovative research in the field of intelligent transportation. Professor Meng expressed his excitement about the project, stating that the SDCS will provide a conducive environment for faculty to conduct research on connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI), while also offering students immersive learning experiences in these crucial application areas.
The primary goals of the project include facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty members from different disciplines to explore various aspects of connected and autonomous vehicles. This includes developing control algorithms, object detection using computer vision, battery management, safety considerations for platooning, and the impact on pedestrian safety and passenger comfort. The SDCS equipment will enable researchers to experiment with new ideas and generate preliminary results necessary for securing research funding.
For students, working with the SDCS equipment will provide practical knowledge of programming languages like Python and Matlab/SIMULINK. They will also gain valuable skills in distributed autonomy, multi-agent systems, and decentralized systems by understanding vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication in CAVs. These skills are essential for training the next generation of engineers who will be responsible for integrating autonomous systems into society.
One exciting application of this technology is the development of an intelligent transportation system where all vehicles and infrastructure components are interconnected, allowing for precise monitoring of traffic conditions across the entire road network. This interconnected system can optimize traffic flows, enhance safety, reduce congestion, and minimize emissions. Vehicle-to-infrastructure communication can also serve as an engineering solution to reduce red light running and improve overall traffic efficiency.
Professor Meng emphasized that the project will have a practical, real-world component that challenges students to think innovatively and solve complex problems. By engaging with the SDCS equipment, students will be encouraged to develop creative solutions to pressing transportation issues and contribute to the advancement of intelligent transportation systems.
In conclusion, the acquisition of the Self-Driving Car Studio at LSU represents a significant step towards fostering cutting-edge research and providing students with hands-on experience in the field of intelligent transportation. The collaboration between faculty members from various disciplines and the practical skills gained by students will undoubtedly contribute to the development of innovative solutions for the future of transportation. Follow LSU Engineering on social media for updates on this exciting project.