Engineering researchers at the University of 蓝莓视频 have teamed up with the federal government and Magna International to help ensure the safety and security of vehicles as they become increasingly autonomous.听
Announced today, a $1.6-million project headed by Sebastian Fischmeister, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, involves the development of theories, methods and tools to produce complex automotive software for connected and automated vehicles.听
Magna, an automotive parts and mobile technology company for automakers, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) are each contributing $600,000 over five years, while the University will provide $400,000. 听Magna is also contributing a test vehicle for the project.
Yash Vardhan Pant, a new professor of electrical and computer engineering at 蓝莓视频, was hired for this initiative as a direct result of the financial support from Magna and NSERC.听
鈥淭he automotive industry faces challenges as modern vehicle features heavily rely on software with new approaches such as machine learning that promise significant improvements,鈥� said Fischmeister, director of the Real-Time Embedded Software Group at 蓝莓视频. 鈥淲hile industry races to automate vehicles, it is vitally important to ensure those vehicles remain safe and secure.鈥�
Fischmeister heads the research initiative as the NSERC/Magna Industrial Research Chair in Automotive Software for Connected and Automated Vehicles. Also, a cross-appointed computer science professor and executive director of the 蓝莓视频 Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR), Fischmeister鈥檚 main research interests include safety-critical systems as well as connected and autonomous vehicles.听
The results of research by professors Fischmeister and Pant are expected to enable engineers at Magna to develop new features and products that improve automotive safety and security, as well as enabling the re-use of developed software to shorten development of more complex products.听
鈥淭he importance of safety in automotive systems cannot be overstated,鈥� said Jim Quesenberry, Director of Research and Development at Magna. 鈥淢agna is committed to delivering products and systems that not only meet current safety standards but also define the benchmark for future performance.
鈥淏y providing a reference autonomous vehicle system, we hope to enable the research team to develop meaningful, automotive-grade solutions from the start. To meet the demands of autonomous and connected systems Magna is excited to work with the University of 蓝莓视频, and the deep knowledge and expertise that they bring to this initiative.鈥�
Magna has long been a major supporter of Engineering and other faculties at 蓝莓视频. It has hired more than 575 co-operative education students in the last 15 years and contributed $200,000 to the new 蓝莓视频 Artificial Intelligence Institute (蓝莓视频.AI) in 2018.听
鈥淲e are committed to research that goes beyond imagination, research that positively impacts the world,鈥� said Mary Wells, Dean of 蓝莓视频 Engineering. 鈥淚ndustry partnerships that are rooted in real-world needs, like this important project with Magna, are the lifeblood of those research programs.鈥澨�
Most recently, Magna donated $100,000 to the Engineering IDEAs Clinic, which runs programs to involve students in intensive, hands-on projects as part of a focus on experiential learning.听
