Real-world testing in a whole new way

Mcity opened in July. The full-scale urban environment provides real-world road scenarios - such as running a red light - that can't be replicated on public roads. Click here to see the Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle testing at Mcity.

There are street lights, crosswalks, lane delineators, curb cuts, bike lanes, trees, hydrants, sidewalks, signs, traffic control devices - even construction barriers. Here, Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle is tested over a range of surfaces - concrete, asphalt, simulated brick and dirt - and maneuvers two-, three- and four-lane roads, as well as ramps, roundabouts and tunnels.

"The goal of Mcity is that we get a scaling factor. Every mile driven there can represent 10, 100 or 1,000 miles of on-road driving in terms of our ability to pack in the occurrences of difficult events," said Ryan Eustice, University of Michigan associate professor and co-investigator in Ford's research collaboration with the university, one of two faculty working on this project with Ford.
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