American Center for Mobility officially opens in collaboration with Microsoft

Credit: PlanetM

The American Center for Mobility (ACM) has officially opened and has welcomed Microsoft as its exclusive data and cloud provider.

Situated at the Willow Run site in Ypsilanti Township, Microsoft will provide the ACM with cloud resources and data infrastructure, used for the advancement of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) testing.

“We are excited to lead the world in the development of CAV technologies and to enable the safe deployment of these vehicles,” said John Maddox, ACM President and CEO. “By adding big-data to our group of stakeholders, ACM is staking its claim as the preeminent global hub for mobility companies to develop and test their connected technologies and vehicles in a safe and controlled environment.”

ACM will collaborate with Microsoft to design a cloud-based Data Management & Analytics Platform (DMAP) solution which will collect, store and analyse data from tests conducted at the centre. The solution will be based on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Using Azure and the DMAP solution will enable ACM to accelerate the development of CAV technologies, apps and industry standards.

“Intelligent vehicle technology is evolving rapidly and Michigan is the world leader in making sure the mobility technologies driving the future are safely developed, tested and eventually deployed,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “This partnership will provide the American Center for Mobility with the proper digital capabilities to help translate testing data into technology innovations.”

On the 500-acre site, the American Center for Mobility has been testing since December 2017. The centre has the ability to test under a range of driving environments and infrastructure including a 2.5-mile highway loop, a 700ft curved tunnel, two double overpasses, intersections and roundabouts.

“Vehicles are quickly becoming datacentres on wheels and the opportunity to use the vast amounts of information generated to fuel innovation is unprecedented,” said Kevin Dallas, Corporate Vice President, artificial intelligence & intelligent cloud business development, Microsoft.

The grand opening coincided with the start of ACM’s next phase of construction that will add an urban intersection by summer 2018, followed by a series of building facades and additional urbanised infrastructure. The expansion project also includes headquarters and lab with demonstration space.