In a significant step towards the widespread deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs), MITRE, a government-sponsored nonprofit research organization, has partnered with Mcity at the University of Michigan to develop an innovative AV validation platform. This collaboration, unveiled during the NVIDIA AI Summit in Washington, D.C., aims to combine digital and physical testing environments to improve the safety and compliance of AV technology.

Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Testing

MITRE and Mcity’s joint initiative will leverage the capabilities of NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud Sensor RTX APIs to provide a comprehensive simulation environment. This platform will enable developers to conduct extensive testing of AVs in simulated scenarios before real-world deployment. The collaboration is set to address the fragmented regulatory landscape that currently challenges AV implementation across various jurisdictions.

Mcity’s contribution includes a 32-acre mock city, serving as a testbed for automakers and researchers. By integrating this physical facility with a digital framework, developers will have access to critical AV data and simulation tools, enhancing their ability to test and validate AV technologies.

Addressing Safety Standards

A major hurdle in the AV industry is the lack of universally accepted safety standards. Existing frameworks, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program, fall short in evaluating the complex decision-making processes required for AVs. MITRE and Mcity’s initiative aims to fill this gap by providing both digital and physical validation resources.

Through sensor simulation, developers can safely test AV responses to rare and dangerous scenarios in virtual settings. This method allows for the recreation of real-world events to evaluate AV system performance, providing quantitative evidence to regulators and accelerating the validation process.

Fostering Industry and Regulatory Collaboration

The Digital Proving Ground platform developed by MITRE and Mcity is poised to become a national resource for AV development. It will facilitate the creation of industry-wide standards, offering an accessible and trusted simulation test environment. Mcity’s simulation infrastructure will integrate with NVIDIA’s Omniverse, connecting virtual and physical worlds to enhance AV safety assurance.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards safe and scalable AV deployment. By bridging the gap between industry and regulators, MITRE and Mcity are paving the way for autonomous vehicles to gain public trust and regulatory approval, bringing the future of transportation closer to reality.

For more information, visit the NVIDIA Blog.

Image source: Shutterstock