LAKELAND --A university on the I-4 corridor is accelerating its work on self-driving cars... so that they won't need accelerator pedals.
A couple of years ago, Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, obtained National Science Foundation funding to put together a testing facility for autonomous vehicle systems. Since then, FPU already has a simulator up and running and just acquired a "drive by wire" car a couple of months ago.
Dr. A.J. Alnaser, an assistant professor of mathematics at Florida Poly, says the simulator and drive by wire car can serve as a blank platform for both hardware and software testing. The test car can take any software or run the software being developed by the university. All a manufacturer needs to do is supply the CPU, the "brains" of the vehicle.
Because it's a mathematically-based platform, Alnaser says, it's all completely customizable, adaptable to any vehicle. "We can fool the car into thinking it's a bus, if we want to."
Alnaser says they can simulate all sorts of driving conditions and driving situations. "Let's say you have a flat tire, let's say you're towing something... we can adjust those."
The drive-by-wire car can even be set up to simulate snow on the ground.
Alnaser says Florida Poly's testing platform provides a crucial service to automakers. "Let's say a manufacturer wants to push a software (update). They have to verify that software... any mistakes could cost (money) and lives. Our platform provides a space where manufacturers can test any upgrades... before pushing them out to consumers."
Ultimately, the professor says, the goal is to achieve full autonomy, meaning that there are no controls in the car. "No steering, no pedals, nothing... The question becomes, do you feel comfortable with a car driving alongside you at the same speed (with no driver)?" To do that, the cars have to be licensed and insured. Alnaser says Florida Poly's platform can be used by insurance companies that want to evaluate risk.
Alnaser says Florida Polytechnic is collaborating with other partners, including Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Photo: Florida Polytechnic University