GM challenges college students to develop autonomous vehicle technology - MLive.com

General Motors and SAE International on Monday announced a three-year autonomous vehicle competition challenging college students to develop and demonstrate a full driverless passenger vehicle.

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GM will provide a Chevrolet Bolt to the selected schools for the AutoDrive Challenge, according to a news release from the automaker and SAE.

In the challenge, students will use real-world applications putting methods like computer vision, pattern recognition, machine learning, artificial intelligence, autonomous control and others to work, according to the release. 

"AutoDrive Challenge is another way General Motors is preparing the next generation of automotive engineers," Ken Kelzer, GM vice president of global vehicle components and subsystems, said in the release. "By partnering with SAE, we will offer a unique experience for students to work with industry professionals to tackle the next big opportunity facing vehicle technology - autonomous driving."

Ten teams from "select universities" will take part in the competition, according to the release.

A spokesman for GM said the company is not disclosing the selected colleges from the U.S. and Canada. 

Selected teams will be made public in April 2017, with the competition set to kickoff in the spring of 2018. 

"We were very strategic in selecting key universities that have established programs and expertise geared toward autonomous vehicle development," Chris Bonelli, GM Communications Coordinator, said in an email. "Though we are very pleased to see the Michigan government support autonomous vehicle testing, we partnered with SAE International to sponsor AutoDrive prior to this legislation and were planning to execute regardless of its passing." 

The Monday, Dec. 12 joint-announcement comes less than a week after Gov. Snyder signed a bill allowing the testing of autonomous vehicles on Michigan roadways.

Snyder said that with Michigan being the automotive capital of the world, this allows the state to "stay at the forefront in automotive technological advances that will make driving safer and more efficient in the future."

"SAE International is excited to expand our partnership with GM to build the future STEM workforce through the AutoDrive Challenge," Chris Ciuca Director of Pre-Professional Programs at SAE International said in the release. "Building on our success through programs like Formula SAE, the AutoDrive Challenge launches a new platform to engage industry and academia in working towards a common goal of preparing the brightest young minds for the future of autonomous technologies." 

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