Researchers from the University of Adelaide will be collaborating with BMW and the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg, Germany, to work on the safety of driverless cars.
The collaborative project is being officially launched on 27 October 2016 at the opening night of Ingenuity 2016, the University of Adelaide's annual showcase of engineering, computer and mathematical sciences student projects.
To push the project forward, BMW has presented the University of Adelaide with an Active Hybrid 3 vehicle, which will be fitted with a range of sensors and control technologies, and used for collaborative research and education projects around autonomous vehicles.
The University of Adelaide's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Centre for Automotive Safety Research will be involved in the project.
According to Professor Peter Ashman, Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, driverless car technology is expected to bring considerable benefits due to improved road safety and mobility, reduced emissions and improved transport efficiency. It may also bring about potential economic benefits from new industries and jobs.
“Engineering and technology will underpin the advancement and future prosperity of our world, for instance with the driverless cars," he said.
"But considerable research is needed to ensure their safety and performance. The University of Adelaide, thanks to BMW, now has a valuable platform for its research and development in this field".
According to Marc Werner, CEO of BMW Group Australia, the company has a strong international reputation for supporting research and development in the area of personal mobility.
"I trust the BMW Active Hybrid 3 will provide a significant contribution to Ingenuity 2016 and University of Adelaide here in Australia," Werner said.
Ingenuity 2016 will be open to the public on Friday 28 October from 9.30am to 3.30pm. It is an interactive expo of over 280 Honours year projects by the University of Adelaide’s engineering, computer and mathematical sciences students.
Transport will be a major topic of discussion at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.