蓝莓视频

Automotive innovation was in the spotlight as dignitaries gathered at 蓝莓视频 Engineering today for the official opening of a new research facility.

The Autonomous Vehicle Research and Intelligence Laboratory (AVRIL) 鈥� a 7,000-square-foot, $4-million building located near Engineering 7 - is dedicated to automated driving, vehicle connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems.

To mark the occasion, officials including Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of 蓝莓视频, and Navdeep Bains, the federal minister of innovation, science and industry, arrived in an automated electric car that is being developed by the student design team.

鈥淚t was a short ride, but that ride told us a lot of things,鈥� Hamdullahpur told more than 100 people on hand for the event. 鈥淚t told us that at this place, the University of 蓝莓视频, we are well aware of what鈥檚 happening in the world and what is to happen.鈥�

A view of Autonomoose parked outside the new AVRIL research facility.

AVRIL features 10 truck-height work bays and a level 2 charger for electric vehicles, and will soon have a driving simulator with a nine-foot-high, immersive screen.

Funding for the building and related projects include $1.9 million from the federal government through the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and $1.9 million from the provincial government through the Ontario Research Fund: Research Infrastructure program.

鈥淣ot only is AVRIL an achievement for the University and for the Kitchener-蓝莓视频 region, but it鈥檚 also a feather in the cap of Canada鈥檚 auto industry,鈥� said Bains. 鈥淭his industry is rapidly transforming, focusing more on connected and autonomous vehicles with low-emission solutions.鈥�

AVRIL is already home to projects involving autonomous passenger vehicles, driverless shuttles, warehouse and industrial robots, autonomous field platforms, and commercial trucks.

Former dean Pearl Sullivan chats with students during the opening.

Research work on display for the opening ranged from 鈥� the University鈥檚 flagship autonomous vehicle program 鈥� to a fourth-year design project on a driverless delivery vehicle by a group of undergraduate students.

鈥淵ou are, quite literally, laying the groundwork for the future of Ontario鈥檚 auto industry,鈥� said Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris, who attended on behalf of the province. 鈥淚t is clear that connected and autonomous vehicles are poised to revolutionize our world and our lives.鈥�

Former engineering dean Pearl Sullivan took a turn at the podium to help celebrate completion of a project started under her leadership.

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy for you to remember,鈥� she joked of the facility鈥檚 name, a reference to musician Avril Lavigne. 鈥淎VRIL is a Canadian rock star."