Lawrence Technological University in Southfield has joined a global university team developing autonomous racecars capable of speeds approaching 200 miles per hour as part of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, one of the world’s premier competitions advancing AI and autonomous vehicle technology.
The Indy Autonomous Challenge brings together leading universities from around the world to advance autonomous vehicle technology through high-speed racing competitions.
The collaboration with Michigan State University in East Lansing and the PoliMOVE-MSU autonomous racing team places Lawrence Tech researchers and students at the center of high-speed autonomy research connected to the NTT IndyCar Series.
The first race of the season for the team is expected this summer as part of the NTT IndyCar Series, with Nashville anticipated as one of the early host cities.
The partnership for the Indy Autonomous Challenge was developed over the past eight months through discussions led by Patrick Nelson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Tech, and Judson Herzer, director of the Michigan State University Office of Mobility, who worked together to bring the institutions into the global racing initiative.
The partnership places Lawrence Tech researchers and students inside a high-performance engineering environment where AI, robotics, and next-generation mobility systems are developed and tested on the racetrack.
“This collaboration highlights Lawrence Tech’s strength in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence,” says Nelson. “Our faculty specialize in the software and algorithms behind autonomous vehicles, and this partnership allows our researchers and students to contribute to one of the most advanced autonomy projects in the world while gaining hands-on experience with the real challenges shaping the future of mobility.”
At the center of the collaboration is the Dallara AV-24 autonomous racecar, one of the most advanced driverless vehicles ever built.
The car is operated by a global research team that includes MSU, the PoliMOVE research group at Politecnico di Milano, and Lawrence Tech.
The vehicle is based primarily in Indianapolis, the U.S. headquarters for Dallara in Italy, where teams conduct testing sessions that push the limits of perception systems, AI, and real-time vehicle control before race events take place at several major motorsports venues.
Lawrence Tech faculty and students will work alongside MSU researchers and the international PoliMOVE team to develop and refine the algorithms that allow the autonomous racecar to interpret sensor data, predict motion, and make split-second driving decisions at extreme speeds.
The professors from Lawrence Tech’s College of Arts and Sciences who contribute to the development of the vehicle’s autonomy software (focusing on perception systems), include CJ Chung, professor of computer science and founder of Robofest; Vijay John, associate professor of computer science; and Eric Martinson, department chair of math and computer science.
“Autonomous racing pushes artificial intelligence and robotics to their limits,” Chung says. “When a vehicle is traveling at racing speeds, every decision must be made instantly and flawlessly. The technologies developed in this environment will ultimately influence the safety and intelligence of everyday transportation.”
Overall, the racetrack becomes a powerful extension of the classroom. Software and sensing systems developed in research labs must perform under real-world conditions where precision and reliability are essential.
“For our students, this is an extraordinary opportunity,” says John. “They are not just studying autonomous systems. They are building and testing them in one of the most demanding engineering environments imaginable.”
John’s research specializes in multimodal sensor fusion, computer vision, and autonomous driving, which are essential technologies for the challenge.
The innovations developed through the challenge extend beyond motorsports. Researchers involved in the project are contributing to advances in autonomous vehicle safety, robotics and artificial intelligence, sensing and perception systems, and intelligent mobility infrastructure.
Through the collaboration, Lawrence Tech students and researchers will participate in testing sessions, race events, and joint research initiatives. The Lawrence Tech logo also will appear on the racecar itself, placing the university on an international stage as the team competes in events connected to the NTT IndyCar Series.
The partnership also supports outreach programs designed to inspire K-12 and university students to pursue careers in engineering, robotics, and mobility technology, helping build the next generation of talent in Michigan’s evolving transportation sector.
“Experiences like this are exactly what make Lawrence Tech distinctive,” says Tarek Sobh, president of Lawrence Tech. “Our students are learning by doing, working alongside world-class researchers, and contributing to technologies that will shape the future of mobility.”
Other local universities participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge separately from the Lawrence Tech/MSU team are the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Western Michigan University (with Colorado State University).
For more information, visit indyautonomouschallenge.com.
